E-Paper
Sheetla Saras Mela moves to Kurukshetra
The annual art and craft fair 'Sheetla Saras Mela', organised by the district rural development authority (DRDA) in the city since 2005, will be moved to Kurukshetra this year. Art lovers are not happy with the decision.
The annual art and craft fair 'Sheetla Saras Mela', organised by the district rural development authority (DRDA) in the city since 2005, will be moved to Kurukshetra this year. Art lovers are not happy with the decision.
The handicraft fair, which is being organised on the lines of Surajkund Mela of Faridabad in September or October every year, had become a roaring success.
The sales figures had reached over Rs2 crore last year from a meagre Rs40 lakh in 2005.
V S Hooda, head of DRDA, said the decision to shift the mela from Gurgaon to Kurukshetra was taken by higher authorities. DRDA will organise the fair with help of Union rural development ministry on an open ground near Leisure Valley Park, Sector 29.
Regular visitors to the mela are not happy. "I would wait for the event to start every year and buy handmade items sold by artisans from across the country. It's sad that the event has been shifted. Besides, it was an ideal hangout for my family because of a number of cultural shows," said Gitika Mishra, resident of Sushant Lok, who never missed the event since 2005.
The products sold at the event are usually cheaper compared to the open market. Artisans from different parts of the country participate in the mela with their handmade items.
At the fair, products like dry fruits and jootis from Jammu and Kashmir, exotic handmade paintings from Assam, carpets from Bihar, Jodhpuri silk clothes, dresses and other items from Rajasthan, and jute products from West Bengal are available.
