First National SARAS Mela 2026 Concludes with Record Performance
The First National SARAS Mela organized outside Delhi-NCR concluded successfully at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, recording total sales of over ₹12.8 crore and attracting more than 12 lakh visitors. The event was organized by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, with support from NIRDPR and Kudumbashree.
Participation and Scale
The mela featured 1,500 rural women entrepreneurs from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Lakhpati Didis representing over 30 states and union territories, operating through 600 stalls. The event welcomed an average of 45,000 to 50,000 visitors daily. More than 50% of participating women entrepreneurs gained their first exposure to a national consumer base through this platform.
Sales Performance and Product Categories
Handloom and handicrafts products accounted for 75% of total sales, demonstrating strong consumer demand for traditional rural products. The SARAS Shakti Food Court, comprising 50 stalls, generated over ₹1.9 crore in sales. The highest-grossing individual stall achieved sales of ₹15.6 lakh. The event faced operational challenges due to Cyclone Arnab, which forced temporary closure on October 28th and 29th, but resumed operations with support from state administration.
Dignitaries and Institutional Support
The mela was inaugurated by President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu on October 15, 2026, who interacted with Lakhpati Didis and noted the encouraging rise in women's entrepreneurship. Other dignitaries included Andhra Pradesh Governor Shri S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shri K. Rammohan Naidu, and Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Dr. Mohan Yadav and Chinese Ambassador to India H.E. Mr. Xu Feihong also visited the stalls.
Enterprise Development Initiatives
The Learning and Knowledge Pavilion hosted over 50 training sessions on enterprise development, product presentation, finance, and digital tools. NIRDPR conducted sessions on branding, product design, packaging, and export marketing. NABARD focused on scaling SHG enterprises through finance, while UNICEF introduced digital courses on using AI for small enterprise management and financial literacy.
Digital Integration and Market Access
The event achieved 100% UPI adoption for digital transactions and facilitated onboarding onto Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Flipkart Samarth, and Meesho platforms. Ten structured buyer-seller meets connected women entrepreneurs with corporate procurement channels including Fabindia and My e-Haat of HCL Foundation. The Convergence Pavilion brought together 20 Central and State Government departments to facilitate access to formal credit, Udyam registration, and statutory certifications.
Entrepreneurship Development Programme
The Entrepreneurship Development and Acceleration Programme (EDAP), organized by SERP with India SME Forum, recorded significant outcomes: 3,489 attendances at expert sessions, 138 live product pitches, 288 entrepreneurs receiving photography and packaging support, 452 sellers receiving Meesho onboarding support, and 3,383 new WhatsApp Business accounts with product catalogues. The program achieved 15,231 Udyam registrations through the SWAYAM Helpdesk.
Sustainability Measures
The mela implemented practical sustainability measures including distribution of 2 lakh cloth bags across 600+ stalls, 2,000 reusable glass or clay bottles to reduce plastic usage, and 800 eco-friendly bamboo/water-hyacinth dust bins.
Success Stories and Impact
The event showcased success stories of Lakhpati Didis including Ms. Chandrakala of Lotus SHG, Tirupati, who achieved over ₹1 crore annual turnover in woodcarving business, and Ms. Siddhi of Mahamaya SHG from North Goa who scaled her ethnic wear business to ₹60 lakh annual turnover with overseas orders through Instagram. The dedicated Lakhpati Didi Pavilion featured 21 rural women entrepreneurs including 11 Didis with annual turnover between ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore.