Theme state Rajasthan to speak with colours at Surajkund Mela

The Tourism department has acquired additional land to extend parking space during the mela,she added. There will also be an amusement park for children beside the main entrance to the crafts mela. “We are planning to introduce special passes at Rs 1,500 for a family of five,which will include parking charge,entry fee and food coupons (approximately Rs 1,000) for a day. Last year we had approximately seven lakh visitors in 15 days; this year our target is at least nine lakh. This way we can help promote handicrafts of artisans from lesser known regions,” Arora added.

Apart from increasing the number of ticketing counters at the fair entrance,the Tourism department is also working making mela tickets available at a wide range of outlets,from the Metro stations,government milk booths to public sector banks.

“The idea is to reduce the rush at the mela counters so that people are not deterred by the rush and come to visit the mela,” Arora said. Arrangements are also being made to have feeder bus services to the fair from points in Delhi and Faridabad to help tourists reach the venue.

Speaking to Newsline,Inder Kumar,president,Environment Art Saving India,a Sawai Madhawpur-based organisation said: “Since Rajasthan is the theme state this year,we are adding colour to the walls depicting the Ranthambore National Park. These paintings are otherwise made on paper and cloth.”

Bhanwar Singh Kumawar,an artisan,was busy decorating the entrance with Shekhawati paintings — a form of fresco painting originating in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. The visually breathtaking art form was dying a slow death due to the lack of patrons,he said. The speciality of these paintings is that the colours are made from powdered stones.

The crowd-pullers

* Special performances by artistes from Egypt and Thailand

* Family passes for Rs 1,500

* Mela tickets to be sold at Metro stations,govt milk booths and public sector banks

* More ticket counters at fair

* Bigger parking space

* Feeder bus services from Delhi and Faridabad