In the Surajkund International Crafts Mela to be held from February 1 to 17 next year,  Uzbekistan will be the “Partner Nation”,  Haryana Tourism Minister Kanwar Pal said on Thursday.

Every year the Mela is held from February 1 to 17 in Faridabad, Haryana. The minister said that this time Himachal Pradesh will also participate as a theme-state.

The Minister said that the directions have been given to the officers for the preparation of the Mela which will be organized by the tourism department. He further shared that the “Partner Nation” Uzbekistan was a constituent of the Soviet Union until 1991.  Apart from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, the cultural diversity of Samarkand and Bukhara, major cities of Uzbekistan will also be seen in the Craft Mela, the Minister added.

The tourism minister said that due to the selection of Himachal Pradesh as a theme-state, this time the Surajkund fair will be having the Himachali tradition.

He informed that after 23 years, cultural diversity of McLeodganj and Manali will be seen in the 35th International Surajkund Craft Fair.  He said that Himachal was made a theme-state in Surajkund Fair in 1996.

He said that a family from Himachal state will come to the Apna house to be built in the fair premises, which will display its culture. He said that the artists of Himachal will come and decorate the Mela complex.

The minister said tourist places of Himachal Pradesh will be prominently displayed in the crafts Mela. Apart from McLeodganj and Manali, cultural diversity of Chamba Valley, Kullu Manali, Dharamshala, Kangra will also be displayed in these tourist spots.