File picture of a handicrafts stall at Surajkund Mela

Guwahati, Dec. 29: Assam, in all its splendour, will woo visitors at the 30-year-old annual Surajkund Crafts Mela in Haryana from February 1-15.

“Surajkund, like the Kumbh mela, is historical and popular and thousands flock to the hotspot every year. Assam has been declared the theme state for next year’s mela. In 1998, it was one of the states in the Seven Sisters theme. The display will be more elaborate this time,” said Baldev Malakar, director of Assam Tourism, which is gearing up to give visitors at the mela a feel of Assam.

The decision to declare Assam as the theme state was taken jointly by officials of the Haryana and Assam state tourism departments at a meeting in New Delhi recently.

Four of the 47 hectares at the mela ground have been allotted to Assam for landscaping.

“According to the norms stipulated by the Haryana state tourism department, we will create a landscape of Assam, its historical hotspots and industrial centres. We will also set up gates modelled on the Kalakshetra, Daha Parbatiya and Rangghar, among others,” Malakar said.

“Besides, there will be eye-catchers such as replicas of the buffalo fight (moh juj), the rhino, which is the state animal, and the murals on Kamakhya temple and other places of interest. The walls will also depict Assam’s culture and wildlife,” he said.

Artisans from the state will leave for Surajkund in two to three days to erect the gates and replicas.

The cultural affairs department is also gearing up for the mela. “Various artistes and troupes from the state will perform at the mela. We will showcase the traditional dance forms of the state and do our bit to support the tourism department, which is the nodal agency. The fact that Assam has been chosen as the theme state is a matter of pride,” Shantanu Thakur, the state cultural affairs secretary, said.

The handloom & textiles and sericulture departments will also make their presence felt.

“This being a crafts mela basically, about 25 stalls will display the handicrafts of Assam. The best craftsmen, including national and state awardees, have been chosen to represent the state at the fair. Space will also be allotted for apna ghar, where rural households, comprising thatched houses, granaries and the dheki, will be displayed,” the tourism director said. “Over 350 participants from the state will take part. We are trying to keep the budget reasonable,” he added.

A fashion show and food festival will be part of the package. A booklet with sketches of Assam’s who’s who will also be distributed to the visitors.

Utpalananda Sarma, commissioner, industries and commerce, said they would showcase the best of craftsmanship at the fair.