Surajkund mela to showcase Madhya Pradesh

After a gap of 17 years, Surajkund Mela Authority has picked up Madhya Pradesh for its theme. The mela, which has now become a global annual event organised between February 1 and 15 each year, attracts domestic as well as foreign tourists. To showcase ‘Heart of Incredible India’ (Hindustan Ka Dil Dekho), the state tourism development corporation is gearing up to take the maximum mileage from the mela. The corporation has plans to invest at least Rs 40-50 lakh in the event.

The crafts fair at Surajkund in Haryana’s Faridabad district will have participation from Egypt, Thailand and Brazil and almost all Saarc countries including Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“We have plans to showcase our world heritage site Bhimbetka, handloom and handicraft items, folk and tribal dances, our delicacies, tourist destinations and heritage sites,” Ashwin Lohani, managing director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, told Business Standard. “Apna Ghar, a replica of Bhil tribal family, will be the centre of attraction at the mela.”

Artists of national repute will create a unique spectrum on Madhya Pradesh theme in the mela. As many as 60 craftsmen will participate in the mela and display the finest patterns and combinations of handloom and handicraft items like Chanderi and Maheshwari sarees, Bagh and Batik prints of Malwa region.

The corporation will also promote delicacies of various regions – Malwa, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, and Bhopal. Further, handlooms and textiles of the state will be showcased on a meticulously-choreographed fashion show on February 14. An exhibition bus has also been designed to promote tourist destinations of the state.

As a part of its promotional activity, Madhya Pradesh will be participating in almost all the tourism promotion events. During the last four years, Madhya Pradesh has emerged on the global tourism map with its hottest world heritage sites like Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhimbekta.

“We are very aggressive in tourism promotion among all Indian states through better publicity, proper management, improvement in existing infrastructure and inviting private partnership in certain sectors. We will keep on working aggressively in the years to come,” Lohani added.