AP crafts mela from Dec 17

Tirupati: The pilgrim city is getting ready to host the 2nd edition of AP Crafts Mela from December 17 to 20 at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) Tarakarama stadium here. The first edition was held in November 2017 in which about 65 stalls were set up. This year, 120 stalls from various places across the State and surrounding states will be opened by artisans to showcase their talent and depict the culture of each region. 

Briefing the media about the crafts mela here on Thursday, District Collector PS Pradyumna has said that the city has been witnessing several events every month which will be associated with various development activities as well. Citing the example of organising Indian Science Congress in the city during January 2017, he said that the infrastructure was developed to great extent in the city because of that event.

Similarly, after conducting NIDJAM successfully, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has agreed to provide synthetic track in Tirupati and has consented to organise the event next year also in Tirupati only. The intention of the Chief Minister was to make the city as the synonym of crafts mela. Also, on the lines of Partnership Summit being held regularly in Visakhapatnam, MSME conclave is to be held every year in Tirupati.

The city will also host spiritual festival in the last week of January. A food festival was being planned as the Indian Culinary Institute is in the City. For crafts mela, eminent designers and celebrities will come up and will promote the handicrafts in the presence of artisans. 

To publicise the talent and hard work of artisans this will be a great event, he opined. AP Tourism Department will organise the event in coordination with VIBRI Media Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad. 

The event will be inaugurated on the evening of December 17 and everyday cultural programmes will be organised from 6 pm during the four days. A big music festival is also on the cards and the details will be intimated later, said the Collector. Vishnu of VIBRI media has said that last year about 30,000 visitors have visited the crafts mela and it has reached more than one lakh people through social media. 

A workshop will also be conducted this year by designers to create awareness to weavers. Weavers and artisans can have interaction with designers and celebrities. The mela will create a good platform to artisans to market their products. 

Tirupati MLA M Suguna also spoke to the media. Municipal Corporation Commissioner V Vijaya Rama Raju and Sub Collector R Mahesh Kumar also were present.