9th Annual Chandigarh National Crafts Mela from 2nd November to 12th November 2017

By 121 News

Chandigarh 31^st October:- The 9^th annual Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, a joint venture of the North Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture (NZCC), Government of India, and Chandigarh Administration, will be organized at Kalagram, Chandigarh, from 2^nd November to 12^th November, 2017.

His Excellency the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T., Chandigarh and Chairman, NZCC, V.P. Singh Badnore, will formally inaugurate the Mela, on November 2, 2017 at Kalagram at 11.00 am.

Addressing the media gathering The Director Cultural Affairs, Jitender Yadav, said that the theme of the craft mela this year is 'Dadra and Nagar Haveli', which will bring into focus the rare folk arts and crafts and adorable folk traditions of various regions of the country. He further added that like past years the NZCC has invited acclaimed handloom/handicraft artisans, including Shilpa Gurus, National Awardees, Sant Kabir Awardees etc, to showcase their traditional art and craft.

NZCC has constructed as many as 160 ethnic stalls, out of which 12 stalls have been earmarked for artisan and craftsmen from U.T. Chandigarh and 3 stalls have been especially allotted for artisans from Dadra and Nagar Haveli, have been made from bamboos/ballies, hessian cloth, thatch. The sprawling 14-acre complex housing and open air theatre, sculpture park, et al, bears a festive look offering high-end facilities, like never before, for the 9^th edition of the Mela' for craftsmen to display their ethnic creations. All the eight editions of this unique festivity, being held here since 2009 have been a big draw attracting Mela lovers in their thousands from the tricity and other parts of the country and abroad.

The hosts have gone a step further to create a perfect ambiance as per the theme of the Mela. Entry gate has been tastefully designed as per the theme of the season. Aesthetically raised walls in a typical style are decorated with Warli paintings done in a typical Gujarati tradition. Food Court consisting of 16 stalls, including 2 stalls for Dadra and Nagar Haveli, offering rich Indian traditional cuisines and culinary delights has also been put up, where food lovers, will have a date with their choicest delicacies.

A spectacular cultural bonanza offering a string of fascinating folk dances and folk musical instruments and of various part of the country will keep the visiting Mela buffs enthralled in the evening segment of the Mela, daily.

Star artistes will perform in the evening segment during the Mela. The 11-day-long festivity will have the presentations by the artistes.

Special emphasis this season has been given on the flagship campaign 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. Theme, Baratt Ko Jano Bharat Ko Pehchano' for students of U.T. schools/colleges Chandigarh, photography Competition, Camels Rides, Jhoolas/Joy Rides, and National Sculptors Camp by renowned artists will be an attraction of this Mela. The youth, especially the student community, will get an opportunity to know about the rich cultural heritage of our country.

Other than this the Department of Cultural Affairs Chandigarh Administration is hosting a ticketed event at Tagore Theatre in which the famous Bollywood star Pankaj Kapur, Supriya Pathak, Rakesh Bedi, Ananth Mahadevan, Manoj Pahwa and Seema Pahwa will act. The Department will organized its First play (last Over) on 19^th November in which Rakesh Bedi and Ananth Mahadevan will be in the lead role .The Department will host the Second Play On 2^nd December in which Manoj Pahwa and Seema Pahwa will be in the Lead Role.

The Rate of the tickets will be Rs 500/- and Rs 300/- and the tickets of the play will be available at Tagore Theatre from 3^rd November onwards.