The 15 day Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 will be organized at Dilli Haat, INA in the National Capital, from tomorrow until November 15, 2026. The Mela is being organized by the Union Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment.
On 2nd November Monday, the Mela will be formally inaugurated by Dr Virendra Kumar, Hon’ble Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment.
Ms V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Shri Prabhat Tyagi, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), Shri Ashutosh Jain, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) besides other senior officers and officials of the Ministry, will be present on the occasion.
Themed ‘प्रकाश और परंपरा – ज्योति से ज्योति जलाएँ’, the event will celebrate India’s traditional crafts, festive lighting and cultural heritage through artisan products, live craft demonstrations and cultural programmes.
A Senior Official in the Ministry said the Mela continues the Ministry’s efforts to provide aspirational groups and communities with a platform to showcase their creativity, talent and traditional craftsmanship, while creating opportunities to market their products to a wider audience. He said since 2022, the Shilp Samagam Melas have benefited more than 1,000 artisans.
The Official said this year, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) (DEPwD) will organise Shilp Utsav together for the first time, with approximately 150 stalls under Bharat TULIP and Purple Fest. The collaboration will bring together traditional artisans, creative talent and inclusive participation in a shared platform.
The Ministry Official said the Mela will be curated around seven thematic zones showcasing India’s crafts, traditions, food and cultural expressions. कला आँगन will feature live craft demonstrations; प्रकाश चौक will showcase lamps and lights; पूजा पथ will present devotional products; सजावट बाज़ार will focus on home décor; घराना will feature textiles and fashion; स्वाद चौक will offer food; and मंच will host cultural activities and performances.
The Official further said that Bharat TULIP (Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment Livelihood Programme) is an initiative aimed at marketing products made by aspirational groups to consumers in India and abroad through e-commerce platforms. The programme seeks to support economic empowerment while contributing to the preservation of India’s traditional arts and crafts, he added.
The Ministry Official said the Purple Fest is a multidimensional celebration of disability, creativity, talent and equal participation. It brings together persons with disabilities, organisations, institutions, businesses, artists, professionals and other stakeholders to celebrate achievements, encourage participation and promote greater understanding of inclusion, he further said.
It is pertinent to mention that through Shilp Samagam Mela 2026, the Ministry seeks to provide greater visibility to traditional artisans and their products while celebrating India’s rich cultural heritage and encouraging wider public engagement with craftsmanship, creativity and inclusive participation.