Min opens Saras Mela to promote handicrafts, rural entrepreneurship | Patna News – Times of India
Patna: State rural development minister Shrawan Kumar inaugurated the fortnight-long ‘Bihar Saras Mela‘ at Gandhi Maidan here on Thursday. The fair is aimed at promoting, honouring and providing a large market for handicrafts and rural skills from across the country.
The minister toured various stalls and highlighted the department’s rural development initiatives in Bihar, focusing on the Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (JEEViKA) and its vital role in empowering women through self-help groups.
Himanshu Sharma, chief executive officer of JEEViKA, highlighted the organisation’s leadership among state livelihood missions in developing ‘Lakhpati Didis’ nationwide. Patna mayor Sita Sahu also praised the fair’s role in advancing women’s empowerment and rural entrepreneurship.
The opening day saw participation from women entrepreneurs and self-help groups from 19 states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and others. They showcased a wide range of handicrafts, folk arts, clothing, decorative items and regional cuisines. The fair featured over 500 stalls, offering an array of traditional foods and handicrafts.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore a rich variety of products, including Bhagalpuri silk, Banarasi saris and handicrafts made from jute, bamboo, metal, stones, terracotta and brass. The fair also featured Madhubani paintings, furniture, sikki grass art, hand-knitted carpets, home décor items and edible products. Artisans presented a diverse collection of antiques, artwork and clothing, offering several options to city shoppers.
A large number of visitors thronged the fair, admiring and purchasing local goods and handicrafts. Shipra Kumari, a visitor, expressed her admiration for the artificial flowers made by artisans using thermocol, bamboo sticks and mache paper.
Parvez Alam from Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh, shared his experience of buying a variety of carpets made from wool, silk, jute and cotton. “The prices range from Rs 500 to Rs 80,000, depending on the size, design and material of the carpets. I just set up my stall and customers started pouring in. Last year, I made good business and earned up to Rs 27 lakh. I am hopeful that this year’s turnover will surpass last year’s,” he said.
A stall featuring Thanjavur paintings, a classical South Indian art form, set up by Arvind Kumar from Sheikhpura district, drew many visitors. Kumar said it took him between one to six months to prepare each painting using gold foil with prices ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3.5 lakh. “I learned this painting style in Chennai and worked there before the pandemic. After returning to my hometown, I started my own business and now earn up to Rs 2 lakh per month,” he said.
The minister toured various stalls and highlighted the department’s rural development initiatives in Bihar, focusing on the Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (JEEViKA) and its vital role in empowering women through self-help groups.
Himanshu Sharma, chief executive officer of JEEViKA, highlighted the organisation’s leadership among state livelihood missions in developing ‘Lakhpati Didis’ nationwide. Patna mayor Sita Sahu also praised the fair’s role in advancing women’s empowerment and rural entrepreneurship.
The opening day saw participation from women entrepreneurs and self-help groups from 19 states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and others. They showcased a wide range of handicrafts, folk arts, clothing, decorative items and regional cuisines. The fair featured over 500 stalls, offering an array of traditional foods and handicrafts.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore a rich variety of products, including Bhagalpuri silk, Banarasi saris and handicrafts made from jute, bamboo, metal, stones, terracotta and brass. The fair also featured Madhubani paintings, furniture, sikki grass art, hand-knitted carpets, home décor items and edible products. Artisans presented a diverse collection of antiques, artwork and clothing, offering several options to city shoppers.
A large number of visitors thronged the fair, admiring and purchasing local goods and handicrafts. Shipra Kumari, a visitor, expressed her admiration for the artificial flowers made by artisans using thermocol, bamboo sticks and mache paper.
Parvez Alam from Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh, shared his experience of buying a variety of carpets made from wool, silk, jute and cotton. “The prices range from Rs 500 to Rs 80,000, depending on the size, design and material of the carpets. I just set up my stall and customers started pouring in. Last year, I made good business and earned up to Rs 27 lakh. I am hopeful that this year’s turnover will surpass last year’s,” he said.
A stall featuring Thanjavur paintings, a classical South Indian art form, set up by Arvind Kumar from Sheikhpura district, drew many visitors. Kumar said it took him between one to six months to prepare each painting using gold foil with prices ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3.5 lakh. “I learned this painting style in Chennai and worked there before the pandemic. After returning to my hometown, I started my own business and now earn up to Rs 2 lakh per month,” he said.
