32nd Orange City Craft Mela opens to lights, rhythm, colour

Nagpur: Drums rolled, ghungroos chimed, and a burst of colour swept through the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) campus on Friday evening as the 32nd Orange City Craft Mela and Folk Dance Festival opened to an enthusiastic crowd. The 10-day cultural showcase, which will run till April 5, has stalls offering handloom textiles, embroidered garments, pottery, metal artefacts, jewellery, carpets, leather goods, and a range of decorative handicrafts.From the vigorous beats of Andhra Pradesh's Gargalu to the graceful Lai Haraoba of Manipur and the lively Ghode Modni from Goa, the inaugural evening took the audience on a journey across states, each performance drawing applause. The synchronised swirl of costumes, live percussion, and storytelling set the tone for what promises to be a packed cultural calendar.Beyond the stage, the grounds wore a festive look, with rows of craft stalls displaying regional artefacts. Artisans engaged directly with visitors, turning the fair into both a marketplace and a live cultural exchange. The food zone added to the buzz, with aromas of regional delicacies pulling crowds.SCZCC officials including director Aastha Karlekar, welcomed participating artists and underlined the festival's role in bringing traditional art forms closer to urban audiences. Over 150 artisans and more than 300 folk and tribal artists are part of this year's edition.The mela will remain open daily from 2pm, with performances beginning at 6.30pm. With an entry fee of ₹30, organisers expect strong footfall over the coming days as the festival blends craft, cuisine, and culture into one immersive experience.