Grand Fair of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ — SARAS Aajeevika Mela — begins in Gurugram

Haryana’s cyber city Gurugram is once again set to be immersed and overflowing with the colors of the country’s rural traditions, folk arts, and women’s entrepreneurship. Starting today, a grand event titled ‘SARAS Aajeevika Mela-2026’ is being organised at the Leisure Valley Park Ground located in Sector-29. The inauguration of this national-level fair will be performed by the Union Minister of Rural Development, and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The programme will see the participation of Ministers of State for Rural Development, Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, and Kamlesh Paswan, as distinguished guests. The fair, being held from February 10 to February 26, will offer a vibrant glimpse of a ‘Mini India’.

This year’s Saras Mela is being attended by over 900 women entrepreneurs from 28 states across the country, affiliated with various self-help groups. Over 450 stalls have been set up at the fair premises, offering everything from Kashmir’s Pashmina in the north to Tamil Nadu’s silk in the south, and from Rajasthan’s embroidery in the west to Assam’s bamboo crafts in the east, all under one roof.

At a press conference held during the fair, Ms. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, shared important facts on the progress of self-help groups. She stated that 10 crore women in the country are currently organized under the “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission”. She also stated that the Prime Minister had set a target of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, of which 2.9 crore Didis have become Lakhpati Didis by December 2025, and this target will be achieved in the near future.

Swati Sharma, Director of the Ministry of Rural Development, Dr. Moulishree, Assistant Director of the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Chiranji Lal Kataria, District Manager of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, and other dignitaries were present at the press conference. They informed that the Saras Aajeevika Mela will continue till February 26 at the Laser Valley Ground (near IFFCO Chowk Metro Station) in Gurugram. Entry to the fair is completely free. Common people can visit the fair every day from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm.(UPDATED ON 10TH FEBRUARY 2026)