Sports theme based 'Shilpotsav-2010' to attract CWG tourists

Taking a cue from the Commonwealth Games, a sports theme based shopping festival - 'Shilpotsav-2010' - will be held here Oct 22-31 to attract tourists staying back after the Games.

The festival, to be held at Noida Stadium, in Sector-21 A, will be organised by Uttar Pradesh Ministry of Tourism in association with the Noida authority and the union tourism ministry.

The crafts fair will boast of 300 stalls and will provide an opportunity to tourists to acquaint themselves with the traditional crafts of India.

Besides India, craftsmen from Malaysia, Dubai, Mauritius, China, Indonesia and Singapore are also expected to participate in the fest.

Abhilash Sharma, regional director of the Uttar Pradesh tourism ministry, feels that "the festival would ensure a clean and friendly atmosphere with world class arrangements and will surely be a grand success".

The 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony for the fest took place Monday.

The fair will also have 100 stalls for commercial institutions and authorities. The allotment of stalls will be on a first-come-first-serve basis and free accommodation will be provided to the craftsmen during their stay here.

Other features include a 'senior citizen cabin' at the venue equipped with a doctor to attend to senior citizens and handicapped people in need of medical help; an amusement park; a museum exhibiting the main tourist  attractions of the state like Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Ambedkar Park, Mathura-Vrindavan; and food courts comprising popular outlets like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Nirulas', Haldiram's, among others.

The entry ticket per person will cost Rs.10 while the entry for handicapped and children will be free. These will be available at cinema halls and leading shopping malls in Noida.

The venue will also host musical performances by artists like Sabri Brothers, Kavita Seth, Jasbir Jassi, Surendra Sharma, Malini Awasthi and Hemant Brijwasi.

During the 10-day fair, special transportation services like free shuttle service, battery-powered vehicles for senior citizens and feeder service from the Metro station to the festival ground will be made available for the convenience of the commuters.

The 19th Commonwealth Games will be held in the capital Oct 3-14.