A Captivating Encounter with Drummers

 

A Captivating Encounter with Drummers at the Vibrant Surajkund Mela, Harayana

            While I was working in Delhi, so one day a programme was made to cover Surajkund festival which was going on at the bordering area of Harayana. With four persons of my office I drove them to the festival ground at Surajkund. The festival was very lively, vibrant and colorful. Artesian, musicians and dancers were all arrived there to give their performances and lot of cultural activities as well as unique craft were on display as this mela is mainly famous for crafts too. Artists from all over globe throng there to showcase their talent.

            The main attraction of the Suraj Kund Mela is its open air theater or say it Chaupal where performer from all over the states use to showcase their talent and cultural activities, so while one group of some state was performing very vibrant musical and dance programme I got a shot of the drummers dancing and very lively and rhythmically in the setting sun behind them making the dancers in silhouette and the drums lighten up in the setting sun making very lively picture. I immediately used the long zoom and made some lively pictures, which is before you.  

            This festival is organized by the Harayana Tourism Department with much offbeat attraction for people of every age. This mela is famous for the richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms and the cultural fabric of India, which make it largest craft mela of India with Rural touch. The fair also showcase the various traditional handicrafts including pottery, weaving embroidery and paintings.

A brief History—

            Suraj Kund literally means Lake of Sun. As Suraj means Sun and Kund Means Lake or water reservoir built at the backdrop of Aravelli hills, with like an amphitheater like embankment in semi circle form is constructed by the Tomar King Suraj Pal of Tomar dynasty in the 10^th Century as it is said. This year the Suraj Kund Mela is going to showcase the vibrant cultures of Gujarat and Rajasthan as it boasts of long and distinguish history. It is a common courtesy of Harayana State Tourism Department to invite other state to showcase their culture as well as crafts in this mela.

            Suraj Kund is related to Surya Kund a hot spring which is situated at Rajgir in Bihar which has religious as well as therapeutic value. It is said that the Sun a Hindu deity use to take bath in the water springs at Rajgir that’s why it became hot and is named as hot spring or hot Kund which has some curative properties for various elements such as skin disease, rheumatic problems.

            This fair also invites bird watchers, photographers, adventure sports enthusiasts as several species of floras and faunas and water sports such as kayaking are going on there.

            Apart from hot springs and Kund the area is surrounded by serene landscape with captivating views and alluring atmosphere for the tourists. So before embarking for the same one must know the route, accommodations, safety and guidelines or the restriction to ensure safe and pleasant visit of the place.

            The price of the ticket from Monday to Friday is Rs 120/- per head and on weekends it increased to Rs 180/- per person. So keep this colorful itinerary in your bucket list and embark for the same. There is provision of Helicopter ride at the mela it cost Rs 2500/- per person for 6 to 10 minutes ride and its ticket is available at Surjkund mela site or can be purchased at the helipad counter.

In Picture the drummers at Suraj Kund Mela in Harayana.

Text and Photo by- Ashok Karan,

Ashokkaran.blogspot.com,

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