The Ministry of Minority Affairs successfully concluded the 5th edition of Lok Samvardhan Parv in Kochi, Kerala, held from August 26th to September 4th, 2025. This event, operating under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) framework, aimed to provide minority community artisans, craftspersons, weavers, and culinary specialists with a platform for market access, increased visibility, and economic empowerment. Inaugurated by Shri George Kurian, Hon'ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the event featured 100 artisan stalls from 25 States and Union Territories showcasing traditional crafts, and 14 food stalls from six States/UTs offering authentic regional delicacies. Participation included 49 women artisans, 50 men artisans, 1 transgender artisan, 8 women culinary experts, and 6 men culinary experts. The 10-day festival attracted over 46,000 visitors, resulting in sales exceeding ₹66 lakhs for artisans and ₹12 lakhs for culinary experts. Lok Samvardhan Parv serves as a crucial platform for promoting traditional crafts, skills, and cuisine of minority communities, fostering sustainable business opportunities and cultural exchange, and aligning with the government's vision of inclusive growth and an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for minority affairs, the organizer of the Lok Samvardhan Parv event.
Lok Samvardhan Parv: An event organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide a platform for minority community artisans, craftspersons, weavers, and culinary specialists.
Kochi, Kerala: The city and state in India where the 5th edition of the Lok Samvardhan Parv was held.
Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan PM VIKAS: A framework under which the Lok Samvardhan Parv event took place, aimed at providing market linkages and economic empowerment to minority communities.
Shri George Kurian: Hon'ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, and th Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying who inaugurated the event.
Rajasthan: One of the states from which artisans and culinary experts participated in the event.
Bihar: One of the states from which artisans and culinary experts participated in the event.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A vision of the Government of India towards self-reliant India.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Ministry of Minority Affairs Successfully Concludes
5th Edition of Lok Samvardhan Parv in Kochi, Kerala
Posted On: 08 SEP 2025 8:51PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, organized the 5th edition of Lok Samvardhan Parv
between 26 August and 4 September 2025 at Marine Drive Exhibition Area, Kochi, Kerala. The event took
place under the framework of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), with the aim of
providing minority community artisans, craftspersons, weavers, and culinary specialists a structured forum for
market linkages, increased visibility, and economic empowerment.
The event was inaugurated by Shri George Kurian, Hon'ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, and
th
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying on 27 August, 2025.
100 stalls of artisans from 25 States and Union Territories displayed a wide range of traditional crafts such as
Blue Pottery (Rajasthan), Channapatna Toys (Karnataka), Nettippattam (Kerala), Banarasi Zari and
Chikankari (Uttar Pradesh), Phulkari (Punjab), Bastar Iron Craft (Chhattisgarh), Madhubani Paintings (Bihar),
and wood carving, embroidery, jute work, lacquer art, pearls, coir, and tribal weaves, etc.
Moreover, 14 food stalls from six States/UTs provided authentic delicacies from Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat,
Kerala, UP and Bihar, and also included street food, bakery products, pickles, and ayurvedic products.
The event witnessed participation from 49 women artisans, 50 men artisans, and 01 transgender artisan; and 8
women & 6 men culinary experts; demonstrating the inclusive nature of the event. Cultural performances
were held on various days of the event for visitors to witness India’s rich cultural heritage.
The 10-day festival saw a footfall of over 46,000 visitors, reflecting robust public interest and appreciation.
The participating artisans also reported sales of over ₹66 lakhs, while culinary experts recorded sales of over
₹12 lakhs, reflecting real and tangible economic gains for the participating artisans and culinary experts.
The Lok Samvardhan Parv has, in its successive editions, become an important platform for the promotion of
minority communities’ traditional crafts, skills, and cuisine. Through the generation of sustainable business
opportunities and cultural exchange, the Parv supports the vision of the Government of India towards a
"Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas." The 5th edition in Kochi has further consolidated
the commitment of the Ministry towards inclusive growth, livelihood generation, and cultural sustenance, thus
moving towards the realization of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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(Release ID: 2164795)