The Shilp Samagam Mela 2026, currently underway at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, continues to draw enthusiastic crowds with its spectacular display of India’s artistic traditions, indigenous craftsmanship, and vibrant cultural diversity.
Organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the 15-day Mela has transformed into a bustling hub of inclusive celebration and will remain open to visitors until November 15, 2026.
Centred around the theme ‘प्रकाश और परंपरा – ज्योति से ज्योति जलाएँ’, the Mela highlights India’s rich heritage of traditional crafts and festive lighting. The fair has been curated across seven distinct thematic zones to offer visitors a multi-sensory cultural experience.
These include कला आँगन featuring live craft demonstrations by skilled artisans, प्रकाश चौक displaying an exquisite collection of lamps and festive lights, पूजा पथ presenting a wide range of devotional products, सजावट बाज़ार focusing on unique and traditional home décor items, घराना featuring a stunning array of traditional textiles and fashion, स्वाद चौक offering diverse culinary delights from different regions, and मंच serving as the vibrant centre for cultural activities and evening performances.
The Mela features more than 130 stalls showcasing handicrafts, handloom products, and creative works by artisans and beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Safai Karamcharis, and persons with disabilities. To strengthen economic opportunities and market reach for these artisans, key empowerment components have been integrated into the event.
The Ministry has been organising Shilp Samagam Melas since 2022. Through 15 such fairs, more than 1,000 artisans from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Safai Karamcharis have benefited from opportunities to exhibit and market their products.
This includes Bharat TULIP, which connects artisans directly with wider markets through e-commerce platforms, providing them with greater visibility, consumer access, and sustainable economic growth, alongside Purple Fest, which celebrates the creativity, capabilities, and active contributions of persons with disabilities while promoting equal opportunities and social inclusion.
A major attraction captivating visitors every evening is the series of cultural activities and programmes hosted at the Manch. Artists and troupe performers from different States come together to present colourful folk dances, traditional music, and regional art forms.
These evening programmes offer audiences a mesmerizing window into India's pluralistic cultural expressions on a single platform, creating a festive atmosphere and fostering regional cultural exchange.
Participating beneficiaries are supported by the Ministry's apex corporations, including the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), and National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC).
Artisans are provided with free stalls, travel expenses, daily allowances, and transportation facilities for their goods.
Through the Shilp Samagam Mela 2026, the Ministry continues its efforts to strengthen livelihood opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship, and foster inclusive economic growth while preserving India’s rich cultural heritage. The Ministry invites citizens, families, and art enthusiasts to visit Dilli Haat, explore traditional crafts, support artisan communities, and experience the nation's diverse cultural traditions.