Mangaluru: Namma Saras Mela 2026 — National-Level SHG expo at Karavali Utsav Grounds from Feb 20 to 28

Mangaluru: Namma Saras Mela 2026 — National-Level SHG expo at Karavali Utsav Grounds from Feb 20 to 28

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 19, 2026: The Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood under the Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission, in association with the district administration, Zilla Panchayat and Mangaluru City Corporation, will organise a national-level exhibition-cum-sale of products made by self-help groups (SHGs) — Namma Saras Mela 2026 — at Karavali Grounds in Mangaluru from February 20 to 28.

Addressing mediapersons, Zilla Panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari said women from 15 states and all districts of Karnataka will participate, showcasing their district-specific products. A total of 120 stalls will display and sell a wide range of items, while 30 live food court stalls will offer cuisines from within and outside the state. Entry to the mela is free, and the exhibition will remain open daily from 10.30 am to 9.30 pm.

The stalls will feature products made by rural and urban SHG women, including Channapatna wooden toys, Kinnal toys from Koppal, Molakalmuru and Ilkal sarees, silk sarees, garments, fibre bags, spices, millet-based products, value-added coastal products, khadi items, banana fibre products, home décor articles, Ayurvedic products, traditional artefacts, household items, innovative jewellery and a variety of food products, all at affordable prices, he said.

The CEO further stated that as announced in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 State Budgets, 23 ‘Akka Cafés’ are already functioning across the state under a uniform design model, while work on 39 more is underway. The government aims to establish over 200 such cafés, each providing employment to five to six SHG women. As part of this initiative, an ‘Akka Food Court’ has been set up at the mela venue.

The food court will serve popular North Karnataka dishes such as Girmit/Churumuri Mandakki, Jolada Khadak Bisi Rotti, Holige, Belagavi Kunda, Dharwad Peda, Mysore Pak, Mangaluru Neer Dosa, Kharabath and Kadabu. Non-vegetarian items including French fries, roti-chicken sukka, ragi mudde with chicken curry, biryani, fresh juices and dishes from other states will also be prepared live across 30 stalls.

Cultural programmes will be held daily from 6.30 pm to 9 pm. In collaboration with the Kannada and Culture Department, the mela will feature music and dance performances, Police Band shows and programmes by renowned singers from the state. Additionally, training sessions and lectures to encourage women entrepreneurship will be conducted every day from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm, he added.