President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela

Faridabad, February 2

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday formally inaugurated the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2024 at Surajkund here. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and state Governor Bandaru Dattatreya were also present at the event.

Dignitaries interacted with the craftspersons and weavers of the theme state, Gujarat, and international zone. President Murmu expressed her gratitude to organisers of the mela for inviting her to the event. She said the participation of Tanzania in the event would help in improving the bilateral ties between India and the East-African country. She said the visitors would get a glimpse of the Indian influence on the Tanzanian crafts during the mela.

She said with their rich heritage of culture and handicrafts, Gujarat would also bring a bouquet of colours to the mela, adding that the northeastern India would enliven the spirit of the event with their culture and crafts. She further said these dexterous artists blew life into sculptors, created beauty from mud and wood, and with their creativity, they added beauty to the threads, giving way for the magic to be exhibited at the Surajkund Mela.

CM Khattar said the mela had attained the status of being an international calendar event due to the magical talent of Indian craftspersons. He further said the mela had gained more significance with the presence of President Murmu, who formally inaugurated it. He also welcomed the Tanzanian craftspersons and dignitaries to the event.

He also appreciated the efforts made by the event authorities and management team for their efforts in boosting the state’s tourism. Governor Dattatreya praised the efforts made by the state government, Tourism Department and mela authorities for helping the languishing crafts to flourish through this platform.

Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Tourism Minister Kanwar Pal Gurjar said the fair had been growing by leaps and bounds since its inception, adding that this year the participation had increased even more, especially due to the participation of foreign nations.

With over 1,000 stalls, the number of participating craftspersons and artisans from across the country was around 1,500.