Guwahati, Assam, is preparing to host an 08-day Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 arranged by India's Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The exhibition will continue until Wednesday, October 28.
The venue is Farm Gate in Khanapara, with public visiting hours from 11 a.m. until 9 o'clock at night. Visitors will be able to explore and purchase goods produced by participating artisans.
Craftworkers from across the country, including the northeastern states, will display traditional handloom textiles and handicraft products reflecting India's varied artistic traditions.
Organisers expect 75 artisans, including 31 women, to take part. Together they will exhibit around 40 varieties of handmade and woven products.
The event is intended to help artisans reach customers directly rather than relying only on intermediaries. Organisers say this could support small-scale entrepreneurship and generate additional livelihood opportunities.
Works from northeastern communities will be presented alongside crafts from elsewhere in India, giving visitors an opportunity to compare regional techniques and learn about local artistic traditions.
The exhibition also seeks to increase recognition for the knowledge and skills of people who continue to practise traditional crafts.
A key theme is BHARAT-TULIP, the Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme. It aims to link products from eligible artisan groups to physical shops and online selling channels, helping craftspeople expand customer reach while maintaining traditional techniques.
Shilp Samagam Mela, SSM-2026, offers marketing assistance to beneficiaries associated with the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation and the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation.
The first SSM 2026 event concluded in Mysuru on October 19. The nine-day fair was organised at the Dasara Exhibition Ground and attracted thousands of visitors.
The ministry says the mela supports economic participation by artisans from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Safai Mitra communities and Denotified Tribes. The event gives participants a venue to show their products and connect with potential buyers.
Beyond craft sales, organisers intend to explain financial assistance, welfare and development programmes run by the ministry and its three corporations. Connecting that information with market opportunities could help participants build sustainable businesses.
The exhibition forms part of broader efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship and access to buyers for communities that face economic disadvantages.
For visitors, the event offers direct access to a wide range of handmade products; for participating artisans, organisers hope it will provide greater visibility and more opportunities to sell.