Surajkund Mela to become international event from next year
A unanimous resolution was passed at the 36th Governing Body meeting of the Surajkund Mela Authority to upgrade the mela into an international one from 2013 and its renaming as 'Surajkund International Crafts Mela'.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Union Tourism Secretary R H Khwaja, who is also its ex-officio chairman, and was attended among others by Special Secretary, Tourism Ministry Sanjay Kothari and Haryana's Tourism Secretary Vijai Vardhan and State's Director General Tourism Anand M Sharan and other officials.
The Authority also decided to host an international conference on 'Tourism in Rural Areas' during the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in 2013 within the mela grounds.
Keeping in view the success of Surajkund Mela, it was decided that the possibility of hosting similar melas in other states like Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Benaras (in Uttar Pradesh) be explored by the Union Tourism Ministry.
The officials also decided to ensure advance and adequate publicity of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela, 2013 through the India Tourism offices abroad as well as all the Indian embassies abroad.
Help was also sought from the Indian Council of Culture Relations (ICCR) to ensure increased participation of vibrant cultural troupes from abroad at the mela.
The annual fair showcases the finest handlooms, handicrafts, authentic fragrances and flavours of rich Indian cuisines.