SARAS Mela at Dilli Haat, Pitampura

With the onset of Autumn season, the countdown for several fairs and festivals started in India. People residing in various parts of our country, completely immersed themselves in festive mood. This is the time known for Navratri ( the festival of nine day long fasting) and Durga Puja. People belonging to various age group, caste and creed enjoy both these festivals with utmost joy and gaiety, forgetting all their worries.

To add more color to this festive season, Ministry of Rural Department, Government of India, for the first time has organized a fortnight long (19th September to 4 October, 2009) SARAS Mela. It is an outstanding exhibition-cum-sale fair that provides a golden opportunity to the rural artisans to showcase their skill at a marketing platform.

Inaugurated by Ms Agatha Sangma, the Union Minister of State For Rural Development, this year's(2009) venue for SARAS Mela is at Dilli Haat, Pitampura. Rural artisans, craftsmen, BPL families and Self Help Group(SHGs) from all over the country come together at Pitampura's Dilli haat to exhibit their handcrafted creations.

Sprawling across an area of 6 acres of land, Dilli haat at Pitampura is a true copy of its counterpart,Dilli Haat,opposite INA market,on Sri Aurobindu Marg, South Delhi.It is a traditional craft and food bazaar.Thanks to its internal ambiance, Dilli Haat of Pitampura serves as a perfect choice for 2009's SARAS Mela.

For the past few years, the Union Ministry of Rural Development in collaboration with the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), is organizing these SARAS Melas to provide a marketing platform to assist rural artisans in exhibiting and seling their products. This mela enable the poor and innocent artisans to get rid of the claws of middlemen, who always take away a hefty amount from their remuneration. This Mela also provides a helping hand to earn some additional money as well as wide scale direct interactions with the buyers and aid the artisians to understand the taste and preferences of the customers.

Around 195 SHGs representing 22 States and different parts of the county are participating in 2009 SARAS mela. Special attractions of this year's Mela are Metal work products from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpur Saris from Orissa, Wood-works from Tamil Nadu, Bamboo Craft from Tripura, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, Terracotta’s from Chhattisgarh, Shawls & Carpets from Jammu & Kashmir and Kantha stitch work from West Bengal. Arrangements are also being made to set up attractive food stalls. Another major attraction of the mega event is the presentation of divergent cultural programmes of different States which will be held throughout the duration of the Mela.

Don't waste time any more and visit the red stone premise of Dilli Haat, Pitampura during this auspicious time, with all your family members.

Posted by Jolly Mazumdar