Girl students, freedom fighters and war widows will be given free entry to the annual "Surajkund International Crafts Mela", which will be held at Surajkund in Faridabad from February 1 to 15, a minister said on Tuesday.
Haryana Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that 50 per cent discount in entry tickets would be given to college students and senior citizens.
He said that the fair organisers have decided to adopt cashless system in the festival this year.
"Priority would be given to online payments, digital payments, mobile apps and internet banking system for sale of entry tickets and every other transaction. Adequate amount of POS (point of sale) machines would be made available at the mela.
"We urge people to adopt digital payment systems for shopping in the fair," Sharma said.
The minister said that Egypt would be a partner country and Jharkhand would be the theme state at the crafts fair this year.
Over 1,000 stalls would be set up in the mela this time round.
The mela is jointly being hosted by the Haryana Tourism Corporation and Surajkund Mela Authority, in collaboration with the union ministries of tourism, textiles, culture and external affairs.
The popular fair has witnessed over a million footfalls in the recent years, including thousands of foreigners.
Surajkund derives its name from the ancient amphitheatre "Sun Pool" constructed here in the 10th century AD by Raja SurajPal, one of the Tomar chieftains. The place is located in the Aravalli mountain range.
--IANS
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