The playground of the Sun worshipper Tomars, Surajkund or “Lake of the Sun” is a 10th century artificial reservoir or lake built by the Tomar King Suraj Tomar, is set against the backdrop of the Arravali Hills with a Sun Temple on its West Bank. Built in the shape of the rising sun, it is filled to the brink during the monsoon season and during summers. It hosts many dancing peacocks which makes it a truly mesmerizing place to visit and is therefore also called ‘The Peacock Lake’.
Every spring, this beautiful setting in rural India plays hosts to a very traditional, sought-after and prestigious (for the artists) Arts and Crafts mela where artists from all over India and some international display their greatest work in traditional Indian artifacts or the artifacts of their country. This mela is popularly known as Surajkund Crafts Mela.
First held in 1981, this annual event organized by Haryana Tourism Department for the celebration and promotion of Indian crafts and craftsmen, has grown over the years in stature and popularity, its last edition drew the maximum crowd in its recorded history. This fortnight long mela, organised every year from February 1 to 15. Visitors can find out the finest handlooms, handicrafts, authentic fragrances & flavours of rich Indian cuisines.
Due to immense popularity of the event, nationally and internationally and coupled with the fact that as much as twelve nations participated in the Mela last year, the governing body has decided to go International with the event in order to add to its popularity and display Indian artifacts to wider global audience. Each year the Mela is designed around a theme state and this year it is Karnataka. There will be excellent artistry at display as well as some lip-smacking, finger licking traditional Indian cuisines and to make the environment more joyous and celebratory there will be musical and dance performance by folk artists. The incredibleness of India and its craftsmen will bind you forever with this country.
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