SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj is set to organise SARAS AAJEEVIKA Kashmir 2026 from October 25 at Polo View Park, Srinagar, bringing together rural entrepreneurs, artisans and culinary traditions from across India.
The ten-day exhibition will offer visitors an opportunity to experience the country’s diverse crafts, handloom traditions and regional cuisines under one roof.
Building on the success of previous editions, the mela will feature around 70-80 stalls, with participation from several states and Union Territories, alongside line departments from Jammu and Kashmir. The exhibition will provide a platform for women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to display and sell their products, connect with consumers and explore opportunities to expand their enterprises.
Participants from states including Telangana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jharkhand ,Tripura Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, among others, will showcase products reflecting their regions’ traditional skills and local resources. The exhibits will include Pochampally Ikat sarees, Banarasi textiles, Chikankari embroidery, traditional jewellery, handicrafts, home décor, jute products and other eco-friendly goods.
A major attraction of the exhibition will be the Umeed Ka Zaika Food Court, which will bring regional culinary traditions to Srinagar through food enterprises led by women associated with the SHG movement. Visitors will be able to sample traditional delicacies from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, alongside the cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir. Umeed ka Ziaka initiative is strengthened by JKRLM through capacity-building, improved quality standards and wider market linkages, helping SHG women turn their culinary expertise into sustainable businesses.
The ten-day event will also feature cultural and entertainment programmes, along with structured capacity-building sessions for SHG members on key livelihood themes. Expert resource persons will conduct sessions intended to strengthen participants’ understanding of enterprise development and help them identify ways to improve their products and business practices.
Mission Director JKRLM, Dr. Shubhra Sharma, said SARAS AAJEEVIKA is an important opportunity for SHG members to gain exposure to wider markets, understand consumer preferences and learn about quality standards, product diversification and marketing strategies.“Every product displayed at SARAS carries a story of the woman behind it, the skills she has developed, the effort she has invested and the confidence she has gained in building an enterprise of her own. The mela is not simply about showcasing products; it is about recognising the journey through which women, supported by the SHG movement, are finding their place as productive and independent contributors to society,” the Mission Director said.
Emphasising the wider cultural significance of the event, the Mission Director said SARAS offers visitors an opportunity to experience the traditions of different parts of the country in one place.“When people from different states come together, they bring with them much more than their products. They bring their traditions, their food, their craftsmanship and their ways of life. Such events allow us to appreciate cultures beyond our own and in the process, understand our own heritage better,” Dr. Sharma said.
As Srinagar enters the autumn season, the mela will bring together the colours of India’s handlooms, the flavours of its regional cuisines and the entrepreneurial aspirations of rural women, placing their work and achievements at the centre of a shared cultural experience.
