The Ministry of Rural Development , in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, is organizing the National Saras Mela 2026 in Vijayawada, for the first time outside Delhi-NCR. The fair will be held from October 13 to 31 , 2026 , at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada. More than 1,500 women entrepreneurs from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from over 30 states and union territories across the country will participate. The Honorable President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu, will inaugurate the fair on October 15 .
Andhra Pradesh Governor Shri S. Abdul Nazir , Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu , Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan , Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Konidela Pawan Kalyan , Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu , Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani , Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan and Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivas Varma along with other dignitaries will be present on the occasion.
Andhra Pradesh Government’s Minister for Micro , Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) , SERP and NRI Empowerment and Relations, Shri Kondapalli Srinivas , Health Minister, Shri Satya Kumar Yadav , MP, Shri Kesineni Sivanath and Secretary, Rural Development Department, Shri Rohit Kansal along with other senior officials will also attend the event.
Rural women will get the opportunity to display and sell their products
The National Saras Mela is an important platform for marketing rural women’s products , promoting women’s entrepreneurship, and increasing the income of self-help groups. Its objective is to provide rural women with opportunities to display , sell, and market their products.
This event is in line with the objectives of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission ( DAY-NRLM) . It will also bolster efforts to achieve the Prime Minister’s goal of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029 .
The fair will showcase products from self-help groups through the Saras Livelihood Gallery. Emphasis will also be placed on connecting these products to the online market through the eSARAS digital platform.
Art , handicrafts and traditional products from different states of the country will be the attraction.
The fair will showcase traditional art , handicrafts , textiles, and local products from various parts of the country . These will include traditional arts such as Phulkari from Punjab , Pashmina from Jammu and Kashmir , Ikat and Telia textiles from Telangana, and Puanchai from Mizoram.
In addition, Meenakari , Dokra art , brassware , woodcarving , paintings, and traditional products from various regions will also be showcased. The fair will also feature 50 food stalls offering a taste of regional cuisine from different parts of the country.
Special pavilion for women entrepreneurs
Many special pavilions will be set up in the fair with the aim of connecting women entrepreneurs and self-help groups with training , market and business.
Lakhpati Didi Pavilion: This pavilion will showcase the Lakhpati Didi initiative and activities related to entrepreneurship of rural women.
Gyan Mandap: Here information related to branding , marketing , packaging , business development and market expansion will be provided , so that women entrepreneurs can reach their products to the market in a better way.
Coordination Pavilion: Through this pavilion, an effort will be made to connect women entrepreneurs with various government departments and institutions.
Demo Pavilion: This will showcase live demonstrations of the processes involved in making traditional handicrafts and other products. This will give visitors an opportunity to understand the skills of the artisans and their working methods.
‘ Shakti – The Spirit of Lakhpati Didi’ will be a special attraction
The fair will also feature a special 16- foot-tall artwork, “Shakti – The Spirit of Lakhpati Didi.” This artwork will showcase the spirit of hard work , self-confidence , entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment of rural women.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) will also cooperate in organizing the fair.
Initiative to connect rural products with the market
The National Saras Mela 2026 aims to promote rural women’s efforts to transform their skills into businesses , provide markets for their products, and strengthen their livelihoods. The fair will also bring together the art , culture, and diversity of various states across the country.
Through this event, women from self-help groups will get an opportunity to increase the recognition of their products , reach new buyers and expand their business.