SARAS Mela 2026 opens in Dimapur featuring rural artisans, workshops, and exhibitions to boost local livelihoods
DIMAPUR — SARAS Mela 2026, billed as "The Biggest Rural Fair", is underway at the DDSC Stadium in Dimapur.
Commenced on November 11, the event brings together self-help group (SHG) members, rural entrepreneurs, and artisans from Nagaland and four guest states: Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Organised by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM), Directorate of Rural Development, the six-day fair will continue until November 16. The event was inaugurated by Commissioner and Secretary for Rural Development Thavaseelan K.
According to a DIPR report, the fair features skill-development workshops, entrepreneurship sessions, financial inclusion activities, and interactive programmes aimed at equipping rural producers with practical knowledge and strengthening market linkages. A Buyers-Sellers Meet is also being organised to facilitate direct networking between producers and commercial buyers.
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A SARAS Social Media Photo Contest is also being held, offering participants a chance to win a gift hamper worth INR 3,000. Participants must post photographs on Instagram following official rules before November 17 at 12 noon.
Workshops scheduled over the six days cover mushroom cultivation, women's entrepreneurship, digital media marketing, catering and hospitality excellence, product photography and branding, soft skills and communication, hand-building pottery by Artsy Naga, and floral bouquet making.
Additionally, a Financial Inclusion – Banking and Financial Services Day is being conducted daily from 11 am to 9 pm to provide information on credit, savings, insurance, and digital banking.