The Orange City Craft Mela, organised by the South Central Zone Cultural Centre every year, will begin from Friday.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, SCZCC director Dr Dipak Khirwadkar informed that the festival will remain open from 2 pm to 9 pm everyday from January 4 to 13. Presentation of folk dances will begin at 6 pm every day. Besides, handicraft artists from various states displaying their products are also participating in the festival Over 100 handicraft artists along with more than 250 tribal artists are participating in this year’s festival, informed Dr Khirwadkar. In addition, there would be over 25 food stalls offering different delicacies to the visitors.
From January 4 to 8 dances like mewasi dance (Gujarat), animal mask dance (Odisha), dhediya dance (Uttar Pradesh), Bihu dance (Assam), Rouf dance (Jammu & Kashmir), Garadi (Pudducherry) and Dhangari (Maharashtra) will be presented from 6.30 pm.
Similarly, bahurupi (Gujarat), been jogi (Haryana) and garudi gombe (Karnataka) will be the other attractions this year.
The fashion design department of LAD College will present a fashion show titled Regional Textile of India on January 9. On January 11, Somalwar Academy of Professional Studies will present a fashion show titled Saree Ek Dharohar.
The entry fee for the festival is Rs 20 per person. Dr Khirwadkar has appealed to the art lovers of the city to visit the festival in large numbers.
