Rural artisans earn Rs28 crore in 24 days as Saras Mela ends

Patna: Saras Mela at Gandhi Maidan concluded on Sunday after a highly successful 24-day run, attracting nearly 18 lakh visitors and generating over Rs 28.52 crore in revenue directly for rural artisans. Organised by the rural development department, the event began on Dec 12 and was originally scheduled for 17 days but was extended by a week due to unprecedented public demand, finally ending on Jan 4.Minister Shravan Kumar attended the closing ceremony and toured the stalls, where artisans from 25 states showcased their products. He praised the craftsmanship of the Jeevika Didis, whose offerings ranged from handloom textiles to organic spices.“I come every year, but this time the variety was on another level,” said Anika Kumari, a local college student carrying bags of terracotta pottery. “It’s not just about shopping; you can feel the hard work these women have put into their work, and that makes you want to support them even more,” she added.During the ceremony, Premlata Devi from Bihar and Rahnuma from Uttar Pradesh were felicitated on the main stage with mementoes for achieving exceptional sales.Principal secretary Pankaj Kumar said the performance of 209 self-help groups became a topic of national discussion. “This shows that the Bihar model of rural empowerment was working,” he said.“The ‘Didi Ki Rasoi’ was the highlight for us,” said Rajesh Kumar, a govt employee who visited the mela with his family for a final meal of litti chokha and rabri-jalebi. “We are actually sad it’s ending,” he added.Beyond commerce, the mela also evolved into a live learning space this year, attracting researchers and management students. “Aspiring MBAs were seen interacting with rural women to learn the ‘secrets of business success’, proving that the grassroots wisdom of Jeevika Didis is now being recognised as a formal academic lesson,” said the mela’s spokesperson.