: Saturday, January 31, 2026 9:41 PM
Faridabad. Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday inaugurated the 39th Surajkund International Self-reliant Crafts Fair in Faridabad, Haryana. The fair will run from January 31 to February 15 and craftsmen, artisans and artists from India and more than 50 countries are participating in it. The theme of the fair is ‘Local to Global – Self-reliant India’, which focuses on providing a global platform to local crafts. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Vice President said that over the last four decades, Surajkund Mela has become a living symbol of India’s cultural soul, artistic excellence and civilizational continuity. He described it as a reflection of the eternal philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, where the world is one family. With the participation of more than 30 countries, this fair strengthens cultural harmony and global unity. The Vice President described the craftsmen as the custodians of India’s civilizational heritage. He said that these artisans, who keep alive the age-old knowledge and traditions, play an important role in building a self-reliant economy. Referring to government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana, he said that these schemes are empowering the handicraft sector by providing skill development, market access and financial assistance. This year Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya have been made theme states.
The Vice President said that the rich heritage of textiles, metal crafts and embroideries of Uttar Pradesh and the indigenous crafts of Meghalaya, which are based on harmony with nature and community traditions, embody the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Both the states present a beautiful example of India’s unity in diversity. Extending a warm welcome to the partner country Egypt, the Vice President said that Egypt’s ancient civilization and artistic traditions are deeply connected with India’s historical journey.
He visited the Egypt Pavilion and appreciated the crafts displayed there. He stressed on strengthening people-to-people relations through cultural diplomacy. At the event, the Vice President praised the vibrant cultural presentations based on the theme ‘One India, Best India’, which reflected the spirit of pluralism and cultural harmony. He also launched ‘Mela Sathi’ mobile app to improve the fair experience, which will provide information and convenience to the visitors.
The Vice President appreciated the efforts of Surajkund Mela Authority, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of External Affairs and Government of Haryana. He called upon the visitors to directly support the artisans and preserve the living heritage of India. On this occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar, Haryana Ministers Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, Vipul Goyal, Rajesh Nagar, Gaurav Gautam, Egyptian Ambassador Kamel Zayed Galal, MLAs and other dignitaries were present.
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Web Title-Surajkund Mela is a vibrant symbol of self-reliant India and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Vice President Radhakrishnan
