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| Saras Mela 2026 to kick off in Jammu from January 31st | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) is all set to host an expansive edition of the Saras Mela, starting from 31st January to 9th February at Kala Kendra, Jammu.
The mela draws women from Self-Help Groups in Jammu and Kashmir and across other states into one shared space. On their tables lie hand-woven fabrics, homemade foods and everyday products shaped by village life with small, practical reminders of how SHG members across India work, eat and earn a living beyond the spotlight.
Saras Mela provides rural women with a platform to display their products and interact with urban consumers. While it does not guarantee long-term market access, some participants develop lasting links with buyers, creating trade networks that continue beyond the event. It also exposes SHG members to modern branding and packaging, giving them insights into customer preferences and a rare experience of a larger marketplace.
Visitors can expect stalls representing multiple states, featuring everything from handloom and handicraft pieces to authentic regional cuisine. The mela unfolds as a meeting point of hands and habits, painted wood, slow-cooked food and customs carried from home with each stall shaped by the place it comes from and the people who stand behind it.
Ahead of the event, Mission Director of JKRLM, Dr Shubhra Sharma, reviewed preparations and emphasised the need for coordination among officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the mela.
"Saras Mela is about opening doors for rural women to dream bigger, showcase their creativity, connect with buyers and turn their skills into lasting opportunities that can uplift entire communities," Dr Shubhra Sharma said.
She added: "We want participants to connect with buyers, gain hands-on experience with modern marketing and digital tools and also build networks that last beyond the mela. Many women have already started turning these interactions into small but sustainable businesses, inspiring others in their villages. By bringing together Self-Help Groups from across India, we aim to create lasting opportunities, boost confidence and encourage innovation so that entrepreneurship becomes a way of life in rural communities.
For the women behind the stalls, Saras Mela is a chance to step outside their villages and place their work before new eyes. What they have made over months is met with questions, interest and at times, quiet approval. At each stall, each sale is more than a transaction, it represents a step towards independence, greater confidence and new possibilities. |
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