Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - An opening ceremony of the Surajkund Mela International Handicraft Festival, where Uzbekistan is a partner country, was held in Faridabad, Haryana, Uzbekistan, Dunyo news agency reported.

The ceremony was attended by President of India Ram Nath Kovind, chief ministers of the states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, representatives of diplomatic circles, the media, as well as 40 countries participating in the festival. The opening of the festival began with a solemn procession along the main street of the festival, where musicians and folklore ensembles from various regions of India and participating countries performed. Uzbekistan was represented by dance groups that arrived from Samarkand, Khorezm and Bukhara.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of India Ram Nath Kovind noted that the Surajkund Mela festival was a good opportunity to personally experience the rich culture and traditional art of Uzbekistan. “India and Uzbekistan have deep cultural and diplomatic relations. Although our countries do not have a common geographical border, our hearts are very close to each other. A close partnership in the field of culture and art brings people together, strengthening friendship and warm feelings,” he said.

The President of India visited the pavilion of Uzbekistan, where he got acquainted with the exposition of handicraft and applied art of our country, talked with artisans.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Twitter account thanked Uzbekistan for participating in the largest handicraft festival. “I am happy to welcome Uzbekistan as a partner country at the Surajkund Mela festival, which was opened today by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. I want to sincerely thank the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his leadership and initiatives that are bringing India and Uzbekistan closer together,” he said, sharing photos from the opening ceremony.

State Deputy Minister of Tourism Haryana Vijay Vardhan emphasized: “The participation of India in the Kokand handicraft festival in September 2019, during which we saw how much attention the President of Uzbekistan devotes to supporting handicrafts, encouraged us to choose Uzbekistan as a partner country at the Surajkund Mela festival 2020 ", which is the largest festival in Asia."

A number of high-ranking officials of India also spoke at the opening, each of whom noted the importance of Uzbekistan’s participation as a partner country and actively developing cultural relations between the countries.

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, Farhod Arziev, in his speech expressed gratitude to the leadership of India for inviting Uzbekistan to participate in the Surajkund Mela festival, as well as for the hospitality extended to the Uzbek delegation. “The participation of Uzbekistan as a partner country is very symbolic, since last year our country introduced the International Festival of Folk Applied Arts in Kokand to the world. By supporting and promoting handicraft, we are creating new bridges for cultural interaction, helping the young generation use creative thinking, and demonstrate the best that is in the heritage of our countries, ”he noted.

The delegation of Uzbekistan consists of about 100 representatives, including representatives of the Hunarmand Association, craftsmen, designers and jewelers from all regions of our country, musicians, folklore groups and cooks from Samarkand, Bukhara and Khorezm.

On the first day, festivities as part of the opening of the festival covered more than 100 thousand guests. 40 countries and almost all states and historical, cultural, tourist regions of India represent their pavilions. The festival will run until February 16th. It is expected that by the end of the festival the number of visitors will reach 1.5 million people.