Visitors of Dilli Haat must share their ideas with Tourism Department to make this marketplace more beautiful and shopper friendly: Dy CM Manish Sisodia

NEW DELHI: Since its inauguration in the month of March 1994, Dilli Haat has been home to thousands of handicraft and handloom artisans and a one-stop destination for buyers of authentic handicrafts. The open-air marketplace not only provides a great shopping experience but also transports shoppers to the magical world of Indian art and heritage presented through a fascinating panorama of craft, cuisine and cultural activities. On Monday, Kejriwal Government celebrated the 28th Foundation Day of the iconic Dilli Haat at INA. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia said that the unique bazaar in the heart of the city displays the richness of Indian culture on a permanent basis; it gives an opportunity to artists from several states to connect with the consumers directly, which is rare.

Shri Sisodia said that over the years, Dilli Haat has ensured to encourage deserving artists from all over the country to showcase their unique culture, in order to sustain and preserve the rich heritage of India. The Haat is very close to the hearts of the residents of Delhi and is also one of the prominent places to visit for travellers to Delhi. It provides the atmosphere of a traditional village market in the heart of the city where people can enjoy craft, cuisine and cultural activities of different states in one place. He added that COVID has badly affected the economy and the livelihood of artisans and artists. But our government is taking proactive steps to bring the economy back on track by creating new employment opportunities. In this direction, the tourism sector will play a major role in generating employment in Delhi and our tourist places like Dilli Haat will emerge as its hub.

He appealed to the visitors to come up with suggestions to make this marketplace more beautiful and shopper-friendly as well. Notably spread over 6 acres of land, Dilli Haat is a major attraction for tourists from India and abroad. Daily visitors to Dilli Haat INA run into the thousands and reach up to 20,000 during the festival season. Artists from different states are provided a platform by the government to display and sell their products so that they can sell them without the intervention of middlemen.