Suraj Kund Crafts Mela – The annual venture of the Haryana Tourism was inaugurated by the President of India – sans the Haryanvi ‘nagada’ players immaculately dressed in white dhoti kurta and wearing ‘kesari’ turbans and garlands of marigold flowers and the other folk musicians and dancers from the different States of India. Welcome to the advent of the 23rd Spring season of the fair was all very silent due ot the national mourning on the demise of the ex-President of India, Shri Venkataraman. Every year a State of India is chosen as the theme of the Mela. This year, Madhya Pradesh has been chosen as the theme. Madhya Pradesh, dotted with world heritage sites such as Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhimbetka and other archealogical treasures like Mandu, Orchha and Gwalior, is also the land of The National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna. Tigeres and many other wildlife species find home at these amazing National Parks. This vast plateau of Central India lies in the cradle of Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges with the lush valleys and the rivers Narmada and Sone bringing serenity to the land. The capital city of Bhopal and the hillstations of Panchmarhi and Shivpuri are an ideal and authentic tourist attractions.

Madhya Pradesh offers a fascinating range of handicrafts. Chanderi Sarees with it’s delicate weaves, is a work of captivating handicraft exhibiting hereditary skills and painstaking.

The tribal traditions and the rich folk of Madhya Pradesh are minefested in the many joyful celebrations and fairs and festivals of it’s colourful people.

As a part of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign to attract tourists from all over the world, Pranay Shrivastave has coined some catchy lyrics that have been tuned to a catchier tune in the form of a poem, for Madhya Pradesh Tourism. It has been sung, both in Hindi and English. Here are the lyrics (in Hindi and English) for the readers of my blog.

तिल देखो ताड़ देखो, आँखें फाड़ फाड़ देखो !
शेर की दहाड़ देखो, मार्बल का पहाड़ देखो !
चंदेरी के साड़ी देखो, बांधवगढ़ की झाडी देखो !
उज्जैन के संत देखो, बोद्धिक महंत देखो !
बुधा के निशान देखो, गीता और कुरान देखो !
इंदौर की शान देखो, कैसे बनता पान देखो !
खजुराहो श्ल्प्कारी देखो, भिम्भेटका कलाकारी देखो !
आँखें मींचे मींचे देखो, आँखें फाड़ फाड़ देखो !
सतपुरा की रानी देखो, भोपाल राजधानी देखो !

राजधानी में झील देखो, बहता पानी झिलमिल देखो !
धरमों के महफिल देखो, हिंदुस्तान का दिल देखो !
हिंदुस्तान का दिल देखो, दिल देखो !! दिल देखो !!!

The English version, it goes like this :

See a man, see a tree; eyes open, open see !
roaring tiger you’ll see;

marble mountain come and see!
Chanderi famous for saree;
Bandhavgarh for greenery !
See the Royal Mandu Mansion;
See jungle go into acion !
Look Cheetal look; look bison look;
look swamp deer look, look peacock look !
Take a closer look at Shivpuri,

See silver train go chook chook,chook!
look look look, look look look!
See holy men of Ujjain,
and some, who are not yet, man !
The Buddha and his wisdom, The Indore, Royal Kingdom !
Check out Gita and Koran, And then go and eat a paan !
Khajuraho eroticity; Bhimbhetka graffitti.
Prehistoric University, don’t shut your eyes and see,
It will open your eyes, you see !
Panchmarhi, the Queen of Hills;
Bhopal capital full of thrills !
Take a dip in Bhopal lake; so cold, you’ll shake !
Don’t stop at the start of India;
Welcome, to the ‘Heart of India’ !!!!

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