Suraj Kund Mela
is an annual craft fair that is held nearby Delhi (Faridhabad). Went with Anya and Kalkaji people. This girl is a real gift for me after Sithya. On the second day of the communication my Russian turned better and actually got back to its normal state. Very handy it was as we figured out loads of topics to discuss … After a while spent with her realized for how long I haven’t been out with a white girl – she looked so astonishing with her fair skin. Got major insight how and why people on the streets look at me.
Mela appeared to be a hassle-free zone: no one annoyed us but one desperate guy who unscrupulously followed us with his cameraphone for 20 minutes or so.
The crafts are impressive, but the range is mostly the same that you find in many places – camel leather shoes and bags with traditional patterns (wow, these bags used to be very popular in the USSR in 80s), Rajasatani colorful patchwork dressed with tiny round mirrors; sarees and kurtas from all over, world famous Kashemere shawls, various ceramics, bangles….
What I found special about the Mela was performances.
One of the stages was given to Punjabi dancing. I should confess, this is amazing what Punjabi men are doing – this shoulder shimming, very plastic, very great sense of rhythm, they dance with all their hearts which their bodies follow. Vivat Punjab!
Somehow my experience with eating outside reinforces. Food is prepared and served at spot and we are in the mood for masala dosa. Consumed only with your hands which are already hopelessly dirty (every time I wash my hands after being outside I get amazed by how easily and quickly hands get dirty here). So I go to those food stalls to ask for a jar of water (saw Sinthya doing it once) and I get my take-away version of soap from the backpack . In front of the amazed public me and Anya are washing our hands right next to the food stalls ;o) But then – stress-free enjoyment with our masala dosas ;o)
I am getting more and more convinced: you do not come to India to suffer, you come here to learn to handle.
Mela appeared to be a hassle-free zone: no one annoyed us but one desperate guy who unscrupulously followed us with his cameraphone for 20 minutes or so.
The crafts are impressive, but the range is mostly the same that you find in many places – camel leather shoes and bags with traditional patterns (wow, these bags used to be very popular in the USSR in 80s), Rajasatani colorful patchwork dressed with tiny round mirrors; sarees and kurtas from all over, world famous Kashemere shawls, various ceramics, bangles….
What I found special about the Mela was performances.
One of the stages was given to Punjabi dancing. I should confess, this is amazing what Punjabi men are doing – this shoulder shimming, very plastic, very great sense of rhythm, they dance with all their hearts which their bodies follow. Vivat Punjab!
Somehow my experience with eating outside reinforces. Food is prepared and served at spot and we are in the mood for masala dosa. Consumed only with your hands which are already hopelessly dirty (every time I wash my hands after being outside I get amazed by how easily and quickly hands get dirty here). So I go to those food stalls to ask for a jar of water (saw Sinthya doing it once) and I get my take-away version of soap from the backpack . In front of the amazed public me and Anya are washing our hands right next to the food stalls ;o) But then – stress-free enjoyment with our masala dosas ;o)
I am getting more and more convinced: you do not come to India to suffer, you come here to learn to handle.
posted by Olga Tikhonova | 11:59 am
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