The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, in collaboration with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Andhra Pradesh, is organizing the first National SARAS Mela 2026 outside Delhi-NCR in Vijayawada. The event will take place from 13 to 31 October 2026 at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, and will feature over 1,500 women entrepreneurs from Self-Help Groups across more than 30 States and Union Territories.
Hon'ble President of India H.E. Smt. Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the mela on 15 October 2026 at 11:30 AM. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by Shri S. Abdul Nazeer, Hon'ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon'ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development; and Shri Konidala Pawan Kalyan, Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Other dignitaries include Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation; Union Ministers of State Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Rural Development and Communications), Shri Kamlesh Paswan (Rural Development), and Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma (Heavy Industries and Steel); along with Andhra Pradesh government representatives Shri Kondapalli Srinivas and Shri Satya Kumar Yadav.
The mela aligns with the Government of India's Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and supports the Prime Minister's vision of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029. It provides a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase traditional crafts, access wider markets, and connect with consumers across India through the SARAS Aajeevika Gallery and eSARAS digital platform.
Visitors can experience regional artistry including Phulkari from Punjab, Pashmina from Jammu & Kashmir, Ikat and Telia textiles from Telangana, Paunchei from Mizoram, along with intricate handicrafts such as Meenakari, Dokra, brasswork, woodcraft, and traditional paintings. The event features 50 food stalls offering regional delicacies and home-style cuisines from across the country.
The mela includes several specialized pavilions: the Lakhpati Didi Pavilion showcasing women's journey from skills to enterprise; the Knowledge Pavilion for interactions with corporates and industry experts on branding, marketing, packaging, and business development; the Convergence Pavilion connecting women with relevant government departments and institutions; and the Demo Pavilion featuring live craft demonstrations. A 16-foot signature installation called "SHAKTI - The Spirit of Lakhpati Didi" will symbolize the collective power of millions of women preserving India's craftsmanship while transforming skills into livelihoods.
The event is supported by various government partners including NABARD and NIRDPR and coincides with the Dasara Sharannavaratri Utsavams and Vijayawada Utsav 2.0 celebrations.