650 handloom, handicraft stalls set up at Morabadi fair

Ranchi: The State Handloom and Saras Mela 2026 began at Morabadi Ground on Monday with around 650 stalls featuring handloom, handicrafts, rural products and traditional foods made by artisans, weavers and self-help groups from across Jharkhand and several other states.The fair, jointly organised by the ministry of textiles, the state rural development department and Jharkraft, will continue till March 20.The exhibition includes about 60 stalls displaying textiles from across India, while the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) has opened nearly 100 stalls run by SHGs, many of them operated by women entrepreneurs.The fair was inaugurated by labour, employment, training and skill development and industries minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, and rural development minister Deepika Pandey Singh, along with senior officials, including JSLPS CEO Ananya Mittal and Jharkraft MD Garima Singh.The opening ceremony began with colourful performances of traditional dance forms, adding a festive atmosphere to the sprawling fairground.Yadav said such events help strengthen livelihoods in the handloom and handicraft sectors. "Our effort is to ensure that the weavers of Jharkhand get more work and better market opportunities. Platforms like this help artisans connect directly with customers and earn fair returns," he said.The fair showcases a wide variety of products, including handloom sarees, designer kurtis, scarves, dupattas, khadi shirts, shawls, leather bags, bamboo crafts, lac bangles and home décor items. Visitors can also watch live demonstrations of pottery making, bamboo crafts and the process of turning yarn cocoons into silk."Our tussar silk sariss start at Rs 4,000 and go up to Rs 15,000 depending on the design and weaving," said Mukesh, an artisan from Chhattisgarh.Stalls from Kashmir are selling pashmina and woollen products, while traders from Afghanistan are offering dry fruits and traditional items. Benarasi saris, bandhej textiles from Gujarat and Rajasthan, and home furnishings from Panipat are also available.A stall from Gumla is selling ragi mixture, laddoos and chips starting from Rs 200, prepared by rural SHGs.With a food court serving Jharkhandi delicacies, an amusement zone for children, and a wide range of handcrafted items, officials expect the mela to attract lakhs of visitors.