BAGFUL OF home decor options at Surajkund Mela

Jalandhar, February 7, 2013: As the 27th Surajkund International Crafts Mela moves into the second week at Surajkund in Faridabad in Haryana, more and more visitors are showing keen interest in buying the home decor items. The sunny Thursday morning saw visitors flock the Mela in huge numbers and check out stalls selling wooden toys and decor items.

“These lacquerware toys hold everyone’s attention and are not only for kids to play but sharpen one’s reflexes too,” explains Syed Yakoob Miyan from Channapatna, Karnataka.

Another craftsperson Girish, also from Karnataka, has interesting wall hangings and durries made of khus khus and ear of rice.

The stalls of leather puppetry from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are another must visit. Lamp shades and life-size cut outs of royal men, made on leather and painted with vegetable colours, is a noteworthy art. S. Hanumanthu, a national awardee in this art, shares, “The Surajkund Mela has been a good platform to promote our craft.”

The terracotta clay has been shaped into interesting masks, figurines and statues of Gods, birds and animals and garden pots in hues of greens, reds and oranges. This eye-catching collection from Rajasthan and Haryana has been spread out in good number at many places at the Mela Ground.

From Odisha comes traditional pattachitra, tasser painting, palm leaf carving and papier-mâché. Ganesh Sahoo has a stall with interesting wall hangings, vases and decor items made using these artistic methods.

Not to miss, there are amazing chimes and innovatively designed hangings made from dried gourd (tuma) and bamboo crafts by Jagat Ram Dewangan, from Chhattisgarh. Also stall from Siliguri, Assam has a uniquely crafted collection of bamboo and cane trays, vases, baskets, pen and newspaper stands to adorn every corner of the homes.

State awardee Sunita Rani, from Delhi, has carved paintings to showcase, made in white metal, copper and brass and framed to perfection.

Many dignitaries who visited the Mela on Thursday including HE Alexander Cece Loua, ambassador of Republic of Guinea to India; Justice I.P. Vashist, Dhanpat Singh, Principal Secretary; Sarban Singh, Principal Secretary, Haryana and Dr Saket Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Mahendergarh.

A kite flying competition for school students was also organised on Thursday. Around 70 students took part in it with a soaring competitive spirit. In the high flying event, among boys, Neeraj and Ankit of Gita Bal Niketan Sr Sec School, Faridabad; Ankit and Anil of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sr. Secondary School, Faridabad and Parul and Sachin of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sr. Secondary School, Faridabad won first, second and third positions respectively. In the same event, among girls, Vinita and Parveen of Govt. Girls Sr Sec School, Faridabad; Tanya and Taruna of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sr. Sec School, Faridabad and Neha Bano and Neha Rani of Govt. Sr Sec. School, Faridabad stood first, second and third respectively.

In the kite cutting event, among boys, Vishal and Prince of Gita Bal Niketan, Faridabad; Neeraj and Ankit of Gita Bal Niketan Sr. Sec. School, Faridabad and Neeraj and Laxman of Govt. Boys Sr. Sec School, Faridabad came first, second and third respectively. In the same event, the girls too showed equal interest. Neha Bano and Neha Rani of Govt. Sr Sec. School, Faridabad; Anita and Sonam of Govt. Sr Sec. School, Faridabad and Reshma and Tanya Wadhwa of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sr. Secondary School, Faridabad took away the first, second and third prizes respectively.

A rangoli competition is on the cards for school students tomorrow.

The qawwali evening on Thursday was a well attended function with Chand Nizami and group enthralling the audience with their mesmerising jugalbandi. A Hasya Kavi Sammelan by Dinesh Raghuvanshi will be organised at the Natyashala tomorrow.