Surajkund International Crafts Mela
fair
When it happens
February
Annually in the first half of February, with dates shifting slightly — the 39th edition ran 31 January to 15 February.
Gallery
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Significance
A modern government tourism event rather than an inherited tradition, run by Haryana Tourism with the Union Ministry — and the largest crafts fair of its kind in the country.
Why it's celebrated
Not a religious or seasonal observance. It was created by the Haryana government in 1987 to bring master craftspeople from across India onto one ground.
How it's celebrated
Artisans sell handloom, pottery, terracotta, metalwork and paintings from mud-plastered stalls laid out as a mock village across roughly forty acres, with folk troupes performing through the day and evening.
Key rituals
None — it is a crafts and trade fair.
Beliefs & spiritual meaning
None.
History & origins
Established in 1987 beside the tenth-century Surajkund reservoir, and grown into an international fair with named partner nations.
Frequently asked
When is the Surajkund Mela?+
In the first half of February each year, with the exact dates shifting a little — the 39th edition ran 31 January to 15 February. It is held at the Surajkund Mela Ground in Faridabad, close enough to Delhi for a day trip.
Is Surajkund an old fair?+
No. It was created by the Haryana government in 1987 to bring master craftspeople from across India onto one ground, and it is run by Haryana Tourism with the Union Ministry. The reservoir beside it is tenth-century; the fair is not.
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