Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday inaugurated the 36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela at Faridabad, Haryana.
On this occasion, he urged everyone to consider locally produced handicraft items when looking for gifts to their friends and relatives.
He underscored that such an approach would not only help in conservation of many unique art forms but also enhance the economic condition of our talented artisans & craftsmen.
Partner Nation and Theme State
On arrival at Surajkund Mela, Shri Dhankhar and Dr Sudesh Dhankhar were welcomed by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal and other dignitaries from the state.
Then he visited the zone of the Partner Nation (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), the zone of the North Eastern Region, which is the Theme State for this year and the unique ‘Apna Ghar’, a traditional Haryanvi home, showcasing the ethnic and traditional vibe of the region
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President described the Surajkund Mela as an amazing display of the incredible diversity and heritage of India’s craftsmanship.
He lauded the state government and organisers of the Mela for their efforts to showcase and promote the creativity and talent of India’s craftsmen.
Referring to various innovative steps such as Mudra Yojana, One District, One Product and Unity Malls, Shri Dhankhar said that the Government is committed to promote Indian craft, handlooms and folk art through all possible means.
Praising the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman, an initiative for craftsmen in this year’s Budget, he said that it would help our Vishwakarmas to expand the reach and quality of their creations.
The Vice President said that North eastern states are very important stakeholders in India’s look-east & act-east policy, which is turning out to be very impactful.
Describing India as a bright spot of opportunity and investment, Shri Dhankhar praised the contribution of India’s artisans and craftsmen in making an ‘Atma-nirbhar Bharat’.
Shri Dhankhar also exhorted the youth to always keep ‘Bharat first’ and asked them to read and practice Fundamental Duties as enumerated in our constitution.
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023 inaugurated by the Vice President today will be open from 3rd to 19th February 2023 at Surajkund, Haryana.
The Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal, senior government officials, diplomats and people’s representatives from the area attended the event.
How to visit Surajkund Crafts Mela?
Venue of Surajkund International Crafts Mela is at Faridabad, Haryana located near Delhi NCR. There are several ways to reach Faridabad from Delhi.
- By road: Faridabad is located about 30 km from Delhi and is well-connected by road. You can take a taxi or drive to Faridabad using the Delhi-Faridabad Expressway.
- By train: Faridabad has its own railway station and several trains connect Faridabad to Delhi. You can take a train from Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station to Faridabad railway station.
- By metro: The Delhi Metro has a line that connects Faridabad to Delhi. You can take the metro from Delhi to Faridabad and get down at the Escorts Mujesar station.
- By bus: There are several state-run and private buses that connect Delhi to Faridabad. You can take a bus from Delhi’s Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) to Faridabad.