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The Indian subcontinent has a rich history, both social and geographical importance. There are a plethora of places to visit, things to do and hidden wonders to discover and be fascinated by! The Surajkund Mela is one such place amongst numerous others where you visit once and you end up paying a visit more often than you think.
Creativity holds its sway over this fair, located beside the Surajkund reservoir in Faridabad at the base of the mighty Aravallis. The Mela boasts of being the largest crafts fair in the world and the sheer riot of colours, cacophony of shoppers and the sights, smells and art will bowl you over before you know it!
A craft fair often sounds dull to many people. After all, why spend money to visit a fair when you can do much better and take a trip to other happening destinations across the country? The answer is really simple – to explore and know more about Indian heritage and traditions. Every year, the Surajkund Mela receives footfalls touching millions and there are a large number of global citizens who come down to the event as well.
So what makes them choose a rustic fair over other trending destinations? Why visit Surajkund? It is not just because of the fair or the participating countries. While the fair does provide a platform for craftsmen and artisans of India, it is acclaimed globally for presenting Indian heritage, culture and craftsmanship in an unparalleled manner.
Being one of the most renowned in the world, the Surajkund Crafts Mela holds on to its authenticity and desi feel, even with international participants sharing the space. This 15-day festival encompasses everything that a traditional Indian fair is about and then some more. You enter a world of colors, crafts, dance and singing, mouthwatering ethnic cuisines and total enjoyment. You can safely bet on having amazing experiences each day. The first thing that you notice when you enter the Mela are the rides. The Ferris wheels and the merry go rounds will tug at the child within and soon, you’ll find yourself joining in!
The second thing you notice is the smell of all the cuisines that are being prepared and sold. Following a theme, which represents a particular state of India, the food too highlights that state but isn’t limited to it. After all, with a country as diverse as India, you cannot expect the largest fair to not highlight the mouthwatering cuisines of the country!
Roaming around the Mela, you come to the artisan section and you are in for a treat by all means! Rows of colorful crafts and pottery remind you of your childhood and at the same time encourage you to pick up some of the choicest masterpieces. That’s not all; you can browse through the fair for items like furniture, sarees, carpets and a lot more! The best thing is that all these authentic items are priced on the lower side. For example, you can snag fabulous Benarasi sarees for just INR 1000 or vintage decor items starting at INR 100. You are not required to burn a hole through your pocket to own a few of India’s finest creations.
The cultural amalgamation does not end here as you also get to tour the culture and crafts of other parts of the globe. All the walking around makes one hungry and in come all the delicious food stalls to the rescue! Do not forego the desserts particularly the jaleba, a larger version of jalebis.
Going down this path, a cultural fair in India does not just feel like a simple fair or cultural representation but a bigger festival of life and diversity. No wonder these larger than life celebrations draw people from all parts of the world every year.
It held every three years in Allahabad, is arguably the oldest and the largest Hindu festival of India where millions gather to take a dip in the holy Ganga.
Rajasthan, is another famous five day fair where camel trading and racing are major attractions.
It is an elaborate affair which is similar to the Latino Carnival or even Mardi Gras with four days of music, dance, performances and road shows.
A worthy trip indeed
Delving into history a bit, Surajkund is an ancient reservoir with the Aravallis as the backdrop. There is an amphitheater surrounding the lake in the form of a semicircle that denotes the rising sun. The place itself has a rich and intriguing past and the unique architecture of the place which hosts the Surajkund Mela is an added attraction. In this pristine ambience, you will naturally have a ball at one of the country’s biggest and most colourful events.
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April 15, 2024 
