Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 Crosses Rs 55.46 Lakh in Artisan Sales

The Shilp Samagam Mela 2026, run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Dilli Haat, INA in New Delhi, has turned into one of the season's busiest marketplaces for craftspeople from disadvantaged communities. The fair runs for fifteen days and closes on 15 November 2026.

Who the fair is for

It gives artisans and beneficiaries drawn from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Safai Karamchari families and persons with disabilities a place to sell straight to city buyers, without a middleman taking a cut. The Ministry has been holding these fairs since 2022, and more than 1,000 craftspeople from these communities have sold their work at them so far. The stated purpose is self-employment and a steadier income, not a one-off handout.

What the first week sold

Four central corporations run the stalls: the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) and the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC). Between 1 and 8 November 2026 their stalls together took roughly Rs 55.46 lakh. More than 130 stalls are open, offering handicrafts, handloom cloth, traditional textiles, festive lamps, decorations and home decor pieces.

Theme and layout

This year's theme is 'प्रकाश और परंपरा – ज्योति से ज्योति जलाएँ'. The ground is divided into seven themed zones – कला आँगन, प्रकाश चौक, पूजा पथ, सजावट बाज़ार, घराना, स्वाद चौक and मंच – so that crafts, lamps, worship articles, decoration, textiles, food and stage performances each have their own corner.

How sellers are helped

Stalls cost the artisan nothing. The Ministry also meets travel costs, pays a daily allowance and carries the freight on their goods, so that distance and money do not keep a craftsperson away. Two further routes widen the market: Bharat TULIP ties artisans to e-commerce platforms, and Purple Fest puts the work of persons with disabilities on show. Folk dance, regional music and other performances are staged at the मंच each evening. Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar, Ministers of State Ramdas Athawale and Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, and Secretary Sudhansh Pant have all walked the stalls and met the sellers.