Surajkund Mela- Festivities Galore

Hi all! Since this blog is going to deal with anything and everything within the '4 deewari' I decided what could be a better start than reviewing the ongoing Surajkund Mela. This annual extravaganza that lasts only a fortnight is a complete dose of Culture that brings with it handicrafts, food, music and dance from all parts of India- all at the same place!
Tucked away in the undulating foothills of the Aravalli Range, with the pleasant February sunlight filtering through the dry foliage , Surajkund is the perfect backdrop for the bright and loud festivities taking place here.

Getting There | 

Being first timers,me and my friend, Pooja, had our doubts about being able to reach there safe. Thankfully, Delhi metro came to our rescue. We took the violet line from Lajpat Nagar ( one of the few advantages of staying in south delhi) to Bardarpur (This line is pretty accessible to other parts of delhi as well). Paid Rs. 70 for a Rs. 40 distance from the Badarpur metro(we later realized Tuglakabad station was much closer to the Surajkund grounds) and after crossing the Delhi border (and a flooded smelly drain, seriously Faridabad municipality- nice way of welcoming guests into Haryana), we finally reached Gate 1 of the Surajkund Mela.

Grand Entry |

Upon enteringthe premises, you are greeted with huge gateways that instantly impress youwith their scale  and grandeur. The entrymakes way to the ticket counters and other public amenities like the toiletblock and the information kiosk- all constructed in temporary mud structures,with bright traditional Rangoli and rural art patterns painted on them,reminding you of a typical village setting. Going further you are surrounded bya cluster of thatched roofs. Upon a closer look, you realize that these hutsare different shopping kiosks.

The mela has been laid out around the undulating site state wise(almost like trekking up and down a rocky terrain, going from one state to the other),knitted together with breakout spaces for performing artists to keep the crowds entertained and a huge eat out space for all the foodies wanting to dig into delectable delights from across the nation. The thoughtful planning and efficient waste and crowd management by the mela authorities ensures smooth functioning even when the crowd seems to be bursting at the seams.

Following is an assortment of interesting knickknacks we stumbled upon that you could pick up to give your 4deewari a complete traditional make over! 

1. Pick these quirky wrought iron clocks for your living room fromthe Moradabad section. Ranging between Rs.2000-Rs.2700, hagglingskills might fetch you a better bargain. 2. Decorate your foyer or prayerroom with these metallic lanterns at Rs.400 from the Gujarati Gali.3. Adorn a corner of your living area with this traditional threelegged teak wood mirror at Rs. 4000 from the Agra section. 4.This teak wood ‘treasure chest’ will sure make a statement at yourentry foyer @ Rs. 5000 from the Agra section. 5. Addthese painted pieces to your crockery cupboard @ Rs.100 per plate. 6. Trust these paper mache lamps to add atwist to your boring bedside table @ Rs.300.  7. Let theseamazing papyrus floor lamps do all the talking at Rs.1200 from the Orissa Section. 8. Grab these amazing DoorHandles for a traditional touch @Rs.300 per piece from the Gujarati Gali. 9. Go green withstyle with these adorable pots for Rs.750 each. 10. Keep yourlaundry safe and smart with this amazing laundry basket at Rs.500.

11. Hang these colorful lanterns to add color and spark to you interiors @Rs.100 from the Orissa

12. Add a statement piece of furniture to your study room @ Rs.8000 from Saharanpur. 13.  These chunky Lanterns will add interest to your verandah at Rs.1300 per pair from Punjab. 14. Madhubani paintings to adorn your wall starting Rs.150. 15.Go the Zen way- Use these Buddha installations and vases to bring that positive energy into your garden/courtyard. 16. Light a bulb inside these bamboo laal-tains at Rs.500 from Gujarati Gali. 17. Use these adorable cushion covers to add a dash of color at Rs 80 per piece.

Go drown yourself in this sea of color, spirit and magic before it ends. 2 days left!!!

Looking forward to your comments and suggestions...until next post!