The famous Surajkund Mela cancelled for the first time in three decades

India’s one of the most prominent and much-awaited Surajkund Mela in Haryana has been called off this year. This is for the first time 34 years that the yearly colourful event was cancelled amid COVID-19 fears. Though the vaccine has been introduced and people are getting shots but the virus is still spreading. Therefore the government of Haryana decided to cancel the craftsmen fair.

The fair was scheduled from February 1 to February 15, 2021 and every year takes place during this time only. Surajkund Mela is among the popular art and crafts fair organised on the outskirts of Delhi. But given the pandemic, the government had to cancel it as the fair is a major crowd puller. But the government of Haryana is now planning to review the situation and if things are fine, will release a new date around April. At present, Haryana is struggling from the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases which has touched a massive number of 268000. More than 3000 people in Haryana have lost their lives to Coronavirus.
Because of the cancellation of the fair, the Haryana government is facing losses as they earn good from ticket sales, stalls and advertisements. Rajesh Joon, nodal officer of Surajkund mela informed Times Of India that they are exploring other possibilities. He said, “If the situation improves in the coming days, the tourism department will organise the fair”.

The artisans are also not happy with the government's decision as they used to earn almost INR 15000 per month before the pandemic. But the lockdown has been hard for them. And fairs like Surajkund are very important for them as they earn good in these fairs.