SARAS Mela To Showcase India’s Cultural Diversity
The programme opens on October 21 with devotional songs and a Kuchipudi recital by Natya Tarangini Dance Academy.
Vijayawada:A series of state‑wise cultural programmes will be held from October 21 to 30 as part of the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, offering visitors an opportunity to experience India’s rich heritage at a single venue. Programmes will commence at 6.30 pm daily and feature folk dances, music, devotional songs, classical dance and theatre.
Organised by the Union ministry of rural development in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh government, the first National SARAS Mela has brought together self‑help group (SHG) artisans and women entrepreneurs from across the country. The event features 630 stalls showcasing products from 35 states and Union Territories, providing a national platform for rural livelihoods, crafts, local products and women‑led enterprises.
Artists from Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, Punjab, Goa, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, Maharashtra and Meghalaya will present traditional art forms. Local artists and cultural organisations from Andhra Pradesh will also perform Kuchipudi, devotional music, folk and theatre.
The programme opens on October 21 with devotional songs and a Kuchipudi recital by Natya Tarangini Dance Academy. Highlights include Ladakhi songs and dances, Punjab’s Giddha and Bhangra, Odisha’s Sambalpuri and Dhemsa, Chhattisgarh’s Shri Ram Madded Baja, Rajasthani puppetry, Tamil Nadu’s Kai Silambattam, Nagaland’s Ajeai Hoi, Maharashtra’s Gavlan and Meghalaya’s Ka Chad Pliang. Kuchipudi performances by leading academies will feature throughout.
Organisers have invited families, art enthusiasts and the public to visit the mela and experience the country’s diverse traditions under one roof.
