Crafty party at Surajkund

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Beliappa stands near the entry gateway, along with his group and breaks into an enthusiastic dance. His face is decked with make-up and he is dressed in a traditional black attire. “We are performing Bolakaat, one of the folk dances of Karnataka. Our group has come from Kodagu district (better known as Coorg), that has a strong folk tradition,” he says, adding, “We are very happy to perfom our native dance in the capital.”

The 27th Surajkund International Fair, scheduled to begin from today, has Karnataka as its main theme state this year. The fair has been known for representing the cultural diversity of the nation. This year there are more than 20 participating nations as well.
“The Surajkund fair is almost like a microcosm, that represents the entire nation. But this year we have managed to partner with Africa as well. So we have Congo, Rwanda, Namibia, Zambia, Addis Ababa and many others representing their handicrafts. The SAARC nations like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal will continue to be a part of it. Thailand and Peru are new additions,” says Parvez Dewan, chairman, Surajkund International Fair. The fair will have close to 1,500 artisans and cultural troupes from different parts of India presenting their art.
The fair is also concentrating on being ecoclogically friendly this year. “The use of polythene bags is banned in the premises and paper carry bags are available at discounted rates. In addition, we have eco-friendly washrooms,” adds Vijai Vardhan, principal secretary, Haryana tourism.
Free ferry services from parking lot, online tickets, ramping up the sitting area for visitors, adventure sports arena for kids, more food stalls and complete CCTV surveillance have been introduced this time in the fair.
“We have been coming over for a few years now to sell clothes, jewellery and home décor items from Afghanistan. The fair has always been a lucrative option as the footfall is high and many are willing to shell out the kind of prices we look for,” says Babur, who has come from a village near Kabul.
As Karnataka is the theme state this year, more than 75 stalls have been allocated to it. In addition, its architectural heritage has been represented through the pillars from Vijaynagara empire, Jain temples and Bijapuri monuments. “With more than 30 districts, a mélange of culture, language, dialect, food and architecture, we have tried to capture the essence of the state,” said Arvind Jadhav, additional chief secretary, Karnataka tourism.
Amidst setting up his stall of Rajasthani delicacies, Rajan sums it up beautifully, “If the regular dal-bati-churma that I have at my place can make so many visitors happy, then I would love to come here everytime. It is a proud moment for me to represent my state.”