The much-awaited Bihar Saras Mela 2024 is all set to kick off tomorrow at Gyan Bhavan in Patna, promising a vibrant display of rural talent, culture, and entrepreneurship. Organized by JEEVIKA (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society) under the Department of Rural Development, the ten-day event will run from September 20 to September 29.
This year's fair is expanding its horizons by hosting participants from 15 different states alongside Bihar. Self-help group members from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir will be exhibiting their traditional crafts and culinary specialties.
A Grand Showcase of 135 Stalls and 38 Districts
With a total of 135 stalls set up inside Gyan Bhavan, visitors will witness the rich diversity of India under one roof. Women entrepreneurs from all 38 districts of Bihar will present their indigenous handicrafts, folk arts, and traditional food items, providing a major platform for grassroots businesses.
Mahua Roy Choudhary, Project Coordinator of Jeevika Bihar, stated that entry to the fair is completely free for the general public. Visitors can explore various counters, including 'Didi ki Rasoi', which will serve authentic, healthy, and delicious traditional snacks, pickles, papads, sattu, and organic dry fruits.
Promoting Digital Transactions and Enterprise Dialogues
To ensure seamless shopping, cashless payment options have been enabled across all stalls, supported by customer service kiosks set up by Jeevika members for easy cash transactions.
A unique addition to this year's event is the 'Buyer-Seller Dialogue' initiative at Gyan Bhavan. This special session aims to bridge the gap between producers and potential bulk buyers, focusing on enterprise growth, market potential, and long-term business sustainability for rural women entrepreneurs.
