I don’t quite remember how the topic came up at our office in Faridabad, South Delhi, where I was on a business trip, but apparently, there’s a craft fair held every February during my stay, showcasing handicrafts from all over India. A Japanese colleague mentioned they’d been and found it really interesting, so my Indian colleagues kindly took me there after work.
Admission wasn’t free, and there was a bag and body check at the entrance. It’s always a bit funny how these checks are separate for men and women in India, and how you pass through the metal detector, it beeps, but they barely check anything – pretty much business as usual! It was past 6 PM on a weekday, but the place was still bustling with quite a crowd.
There was an amusement park next to the entrance, seemingly set up alongside the craft fair. My eyes were glued to a Ferris wheel spinning at an absolutely insane speed… no way I’d ever get on that, lol!
I only stayed for about an hour, but the scale and number of shops were so immense, it felt like there was just everything imaginable for sale. There were even sections dedicated to handicrafts from different Indian states, and even other countries like Africa, so you’d truly never get bored looking around. Personally, I was really drawn to the fabrics and miniature paintings, but I regret not being able to browse slowly and ended up not buying anything…
Some shops even showcased the actual crafting process, which was quite fascinating. It was pretty interesting to me personally, seeing the contrast between the generally broad and easygoing image of India, and these incredibly detailed miniature paintings being created by local artists.
The parades, overflowing with vivid colors, noise, and crowds, also felt very “Indian” in a way and were super interesting. I think I’ve seen those huge dolls, probably 4-5 meters tall, in photos or something before, but seeing them lumbering along like that was truly bizarre.
My Indian colleague strongly urged me to get a turban tied, so I did! They wrap about 5 meters of fabric around your head much tighter than you’d expect, so it’s kinda unbelievable that people wear these all the time. By the way, there seem to be many different ways to tie them; for the white turbans you often see in the city, they wrap the whole thing around their head, not like in this picture. Three of my Japanese colleagues and I got turbans tied, and I was surprised by how amazing one of them looked in it. Guess some people just suit it, even without an “Indian-looking” face!
As evening fell, the lanterns that were also for sale were lit up and looked absolutely beautiful. They had a handmade warmth to them, so I bet they’d make great souvenirs for Japan.
I couldn’t make it to the food court, but there were several tempting food stalls along the way, and my colleagues even recommended them. However, I decided to pass. I’m sure the food is delicious, but I just couldn’t risk getting an upset stomach.
Surajkund Mela was a truly fascinating craft fair. If I ever come to India on a personal trip, not just for work, it’s definitely a fair I’d love to explore thoroughly and do some serious shopping. If you happen to be in Delhi in February, I highly recommend checking it out!
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