National SARAS Mela in Vijayawada to remain open on Sunday
Organisers have decided to extend the exhibition at Punnami Ghat for one additional day following its official closing on Saturday.
The National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada will remain open to the public on Sunday, according to The Hindu.
Although the event officially concluded on Saturday, all stalls will continue to operate for one more day. The mela began on October 13, offering Self Help Group (SHG) women from across India a platform to display regional delicacies, natural food products, handloom, and traditional crafts.
SERP Director (Livelihoods) Siva Shankar Prasad stated that the mela recorded sales of ₹12.11 crore during the 19-day period. He noted that hosting the event in Andhra Pradesh was a privilege.
The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) organised the mela in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). This marks the first time since 1999 that the mela has been held in a city other than New Delhi.
NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha attributed the success of the event to the combined work of the MoRD, SERP leadership, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, the police, the electricity department, and sanitation and CCTV teams.
Awards were presented to various SHGs and coordinators for categories including stall design, product quality, innovation, and customer engagement.