Cradle of handicrafts promotion Surajkund, Haryana, India

T. Arjuna

Delhi in winter is paradise in the making. So the invitation to attend the Surajkund Crafts Mela - a festival hosted in the manner of a village fair - in Haryana, India; had me packing without an iota of hesitation or delay.

Surajkund, near Faridabad, Haryana is an undulating landscape steeped in the past of Indian history. In this pristine piece of land spanning 200 or so acres in the Aravalli range of hills, 48 Km from Delhi, the Haryana Tourism, a Government of Haryana entity, has been conducting for the past 21 years, one of the foremost crafts meals in the world.

Thanks to the efforts and the wholehearted assistance rendered by the office of the Indian High Commission in Colombo and SAARC Secretariat, the National Crafts Council of Sri Lanka (NCC) was represented for the first time in the 22nd year of this world renowned exposition of crafts where the craftsmen of the world showcase their creations.

Participation by invitation is the criteria. Once invited, the invitee is the guest of Haryana tourism. From being met at the airport to food, accommodation, medical facilities in an emergency and transport (with police escort) is totally by Haryana tourism.

We Sri Lankas, with justifiable reasons, pride ourselves as amongst the foremost hospitable peoples of the world. But, I know not if it is by chance or choice, there are innumerable lessons in hospitality we would do well to learn from Haryana tourism.

May be the quarter century of social upheavals has induced a degree of temperance in us. But without hesitation I would say, go to Haryana tourism for a real taste of paradise.

Since 1986, February 1 to 15 year on year at Surajkund, the craftsmen is the King irrespective of which corner of the world one hails from. It is needless to state that given this opportunity and the Sri Lankan temperament to vie for Kingship, the Sri Lankan crafts stalls (NCC had two of them) were a natural hit with the public. And what a public it was.

They came in their teeming thousands. Each day had over one lakh attendance. From the toddler to the tottering 70's they all came, full of life and enthusiasm. What struck me most were the youth who were predominant in their presence. This proof that India is on the right track in its values as amongst other things.

The youth were not just curious. They had a purpose. To appreciate the artisans whose gifted hands and tiresome efforts of love crafted such exquisite products; and to buy and cherish these work of arts.

I always felt that Sri Lanka bounds in talents in many fields.

It is just opportunity and the right environment that is lacking. Given both at Surajkund and even though the NCC stalls were surrounded by stalls belonging to other SAARC countries, the NCC stalls were undoubtedly the centers of attraction.

They were also the only stalls where artisans were giving live demonstrations of the making of the products sold. Young Manohari, creating clay jewellery on the spot was an instant hit, so much so, the prestigious Tribune, a daily newspaper of India, devoted a quarter page to feature her and her creations.

The Minister for External Affairs of India, the Governor of Haryana, Minister of Tourism, Haryana all visited the Sri Lankan stalls. That alone is sufficient tribute of praise to our artisans and Buddhi Keerthisena, whose public relations contributed in untold measure for the successful promotion of Sri Lankan craftsmanship at Surajkund.

It is through arts and crafts that the brotherhood of humanity could easily be established. Artists, artistes and artisans are the counterpart of trees in nature without which the earth would not be a fit or pleasant place to live in.

Trees take frugally of their surrounding and give in selfless abundance. So does artistes and the artisans who, through their labours of love, give the elixir of kindness and happiness to rest of mankind. They turn moments into memories. And Surajkund has been created as the cradle for crafts where craftsmen from all corners of the world come together to spread goodwill and happiness to rest of humanity.

This article will not be complete without the mention of Deputy Director of Haryana Tourism, Mahesh Behl, Rajiv Sabarwal of the Sunbird Resort, Surajkund, Faridabad and Vijay Kumar, the man Friday who was assigned to look after us virtually 24 hours of the day and whose efforts went a long way to make our stay pleasant.

They were also the caretakers of this cradle whose untiring efforts contributed in immeasurable ways to making Surajkund the cynosure of the world of craft promotion.