National Saras Mela records Rs 7 crore in sales

Metro India News | VIJAYAWADA

The National Saras Mela–2026, being organized at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada, has recorded business worth approximately Rs 7 crore so far, reflecting strong public interest in products made by women from self-help groups across India. The exhibition, being held from October 13 to 31, is providing a national marketing platform for rural women entrepreneurs, artisans and traditional craft producers to showcase and sell their products. A.N.V. Nanchar Rao, Project Director of the NTR District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), said the response had been encouraging and appealed to people to visit the exhibition with their families and support women’s economic empowerment.

The event is particularly significant as a national-level Saras Mela, usually organized in cities such as Delhi, Noida and Gurugram, is being held in Andhra Pradesh for the first time. A total of 587 stalls have been established at the exhibition venue, including 210 allocated to self-help group women from Andhra Pradesh. The stalls feature a diverse range of handicrafts, handloom products, textiles and food items representing different regions and traditional skills. The stalls are being provided free of cost to self-help groups, reducing their marketing expenses and enabling them to reach a wider customer base. The initiative aims to strengthen rural livelihoods by connecting women producers directly with consumers and expanding market opportunities for their products. The exhibition also offers artisans an opportunity to understand consumer preferences, promote traditional crafts and develop their businesses beyond local markets.

Entry to the mela is free. Cultural programs are also being organized for two hours every evening from October 21 through October 31, adding to the exhibition’s attractions. Nanchar Rao urged residents of Vijayawada and neighboring areas to visit the mela and purchase products made by self-help group members. He said public support for these products would help women strengthen their financial independence, sustain traditional occupations and improve household incomes.

With its combination of handicrafts, textiles, regional cuisines and cultural performances, the National Saras Mela is serving as a platform for rural enterprise and women’s entrepreneurship, while bringing India’s diverse craft traditions to consumers in Vijayawada.