Kohima: The SARAS Mela 2026 opened its gates at the DDSC Stadium in Dimapur on November 11. Thavaseelan K, the Commissioner and Secretary of Rural Development, kicked off the event at 4:00 pm. The fair runs until November 16. Visitors can browse the stalls daily from 11am to 9pm.
The Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission and the Directorate of Rural Development organized the event. It features artisans from 17 Nagaland districts along with participants from partner departments and guest states. A total of 50 stalls cover the grounds. Of these, 36 stalls showcase handloom textiles, traditional bead jewelry, cane and bamboo items, packaged food, farm produce, and Non-Timber Forest Products.
Shoppers can buy local honey, King Chilli products, hand-woven tribal shawls, and cane baskets. A Tiasenba Longchar, the NSRLM State Program Manager for Non-Farm Livelihoods, confirmed the remaining 14 stalls sell traditional Naga dishes and street food. The site also includes live artisan studios and recreation spaces with games.
The program aims to link rural Self-Help Groups directly with urban buyers. "This is basically a marketing platform that we provide to the Self-Help Groups that we promote under NSRLM," Longchar said. The initiative runs under the Ministry of Rural Development as part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission. It works to cut out middlemen for rural micro-enterprises. This is the first edition of the biannual event this financial year. The next fair is slated for February or March 2027.
Updated at 12th November 2026 at 2:00pm
The event hosts exhibitors from four guest states: Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Sikkim. These participants bring regional crafts and cultural displays to the venue alongside the local Nagaland artisans.
Several government agencies have set up booths to help attendees, including the Land Resources, Cooperation, Industries and Commerce, and Tourism departments. Banking institutions like the State Bank of India and Canara Bank are also on-site to offer credit linkages, funding guidance, and financial services to the farmers and SHGs.
Organizers have expanded the schedule beyond shopping. The fair now hosts daily workshops focused on pottery, entrepreneurship, and customer service skills to help vendors sharpen their business operations.
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