A mela, or fair, is usually held in a large open ground. The mela has performances by folk artistes, temporary stalls by craftsmen or other sellers. Some sellers may even ferry their goods on sticks that they carry throughout the fair. Like this one:
A walk through a fair is a very interesting experience. In India, a fair is a cultural festival.
In February each year, the Surajkund Mela, one of the largest craft fairs in the world, brings together craftsmen from all parts of the country and some international locations.
This year, the Government of Haryana organised a pan India craft fair at Gurgaon. Called “Saras mela”, the entry to the fair was free. The mela had stalls from many states of India – Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Sikkim, Chhatisgarh, Manipur, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, to name a few.
We bring you some images and videos from this mela to share the experience of a mela with you. Even though this was a trade fair (where people come primarily to buy), the cultural and aesthetic elements of a fair were present in abundance.
Nagada – an Indian instrument played by 5 people at one go
We found musicians playing the nagada – 5 musicians play it at the same time. Don’t miss the dance moves as you focus on the music!
The pink turban worn by the dancer is traditional head gear for men in North India, and this colour is especially favoured on auspicious occasions like marriages in the family.
The Been
Those who grew up in India might remember the legend that the been was used to hypnotise snakes and bring them to the snake charmer. That legend, scientists tell us, is not true. But the been is not for the faint hearted or the faint – breathed.
The sheer lung power needed to play this amazing instrument is evident here.
One of the visitors to the mela also decided to take a shot 🙂
