The Ministry of Rural Development is organizing the 27th SARAS Aajeevika Mela in Delhi from September 5th to 22nd, 2025, at Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, near India Gate. The mela will feature approximately 200 stalls and participation from over 400 rural women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across all states and Union Territories. This event aims to connect urban populations with rural products and culture, offering traditional items, food, and cultural programs.
Key features of the Delhi SARAS 2025 Mela include: a Knowledge Pavilion offering sessions on financial literacy, digital marketing, and business planning; an Experience Pavilion with live demonstrations of traditional crafts and inspirational stories from successful women entrepreneurs ("Lakhpati Didis"); and a Convergence Pavilion designed to foster collaboration among various ministries and departments to support the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
Products exhibited will include sarees (Tassar, Bagru print, Patola, Kantha, Chanderi), woolen products from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, natural food products, woodcraft from Karnataka and Telangana, and natural products from Jharkhand. The mela will also feature a SARAS INDIA Food Court, cultural programs, environment-friendly initiatives, cart services for senior citizens, entertainment zones for children, and competitions for students.
The Ministry of Rural Development supports these SHGs through skill and technical training, marketing techniques, and partnerships with companies like Amazon and Flipkart. The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) connects rural communities with livelihood opportunities and currently operates in 34 states and Union Territories, reaching 10 crore women, with over 2 crore earning over a lakh rupees annually. The Ministry is also working with India Post to expand the availability of these products nationwide.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry organizing the SARAS Aajeevika Mela.
SARAS Aajeevika Mela: An event organized by the Ministry of Rural Development to showcase and sell products made by Self Help Groups (SHGs) from across India.
Delhi: The city in India where the SARAS Aajeevika Mela is being held.
Self Help Groups (SHGs): Groups of rural women participating in the SARAS Aajeevika Mela, showcasing and selling their products.
Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, New Delhi: The venue where the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2025 is being held.
Swati Sharma: Joint Secretary Rural Livelihood of the Ministry of Rural Development, who provided details about the Mela.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAYNRLM): A mission under which the Ministry of Rural Development links people in rural areas and provides them with livelihood opportunities.
Lakhpati Didis: Women entrepreneurs who earn over a lakh rupees yearly, supported by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAYNRLM).
Ministry of Rural Development
27th SARAS Aajeevika Mela to be Held in Delhi from
September 5 to 22
200 Stalls to Be Set Up; 400 women from SHG
Groups across India to Participate
Mela to Allows Urban Visitors to Experience Rural
Life
Posted On: 04 SEP 2025 5:33PM by PIB Delhi
Union Ministry of Rural Development is organizing SARAS Aajeevkia Mela-2025 at Major Dhyanchand
National Stadium, near India Gate, New Delhi from 5th to 22nd September 2025. Around 200 stalls will be
set up, with participation from over 400 rural women belonging to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from all states
and Union Territories in the country. This is the first time that the Mela is being organised in Delhi with all
components – food stalls, sale of goods etc.
Giving the details of the Mela at a press conference here today, Ms. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary (Rural
Livelihood) of the Ministry of Rural Development, said that the SARAS Mela is not just a place to buy
traditional items but also allows urban visitors to experience rural life while exploring and purchasing
products from rural areas. Stating that the cultural programs will be organized every evening during the Mela,
she said a number of entertainment and play facilities will also be available for children visiting with their
families, making their experience memorable.The Joint Secretary has mentioned that the women from Self Help Groups are receiving skill and technical
training and marketing technics through various organizations. Major companies like Amazon and Flipkart
are providing support for this initiative. As a result of these efforts, products made by these women were
recently exported to Maldives, she said. The Ministry of Rural Development is also striving, with the help of
India Post, to make these products available across the country, she added.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Molishree, Director (Rural Livelihood), Ministry of Rural Development, stated
that the SARAS Mela serves as a medium for connecting people to their roots. She said that visitors will be
able to purchase products that are famous across India. She further explained that under the Deendayal
Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), the Ministry links people in rural
areas and provides them with livelihood opportunities. Dr. Molishree noted that the mission is running in 34
states and Union Territories and has so far connected 10 crore women, of whom more than 2 crore have
already become “Lakhpati Didis” (women entrepreneurs who earns over a lakh rupees yearly).Key Features of Delhi SARAS 2025:
Knowledge Pavilion: Sessions on financial literacy, digital marketing, packaging, and business
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planning to build capacity.
Experience Pavilion: Live demonstrations of traditional crafts and food preparation, inspirational
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stories by Lakhpati Didis, and promotion of entrepreneurial thinking.
Convergence Pavilion: Encourages making Lakhpati Didis through coordination with
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ministries/departments related to agriculture & farmer welfare, dairy & livestock, food processing,
MSME, skill development, postal services, etc.
Products To Be Exhibited:
Various types of sarees -Tassarsarees, Bagru print, Patola from Gujarat, Kanthasarees,
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Chanderisarees
Woolen products from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
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Natural food products
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Woodcraft from Karnataka and Telangana
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Palash and other natural products from Jharkhand
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Other Attractions:
SARAS INDIA Food Court: Flavors from across India
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Cultural programs from various states
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Environment-friendly initiatives
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Cart services for senior citizens
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Entertainment zones for children
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Competitions for school and college students
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RC/KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2163764)