SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) will organise the ten-day Saras Aajeevika Kashmir 2026 exhibition at Polo View Park here from October 25, providing a platform for rural entrepreneurs, artisans and women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) to showcase and sell their products.
The exhibition will feature around 70-80 stalls, with participation from several states and Union Territories, alongside departments of Jammu and Kashmir. It aims to help SHG members expand their market reach, connect with consumers and explore opportunities to grow their businesses.
Participants from Telangana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Tripura, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, among other states, will display products including Pochampally Ikat sarees, Banarasi textiles, Chikankari embroidery, traditional jewellery, handicrafts, home décor and eco-friendly jute products.
A food court, Umeed Ka Zaika, will showcase regional cuisines through food enterprises run by women associated with the SHG movement. Visitors will be able to sample traditional dishes from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
JKRLM supports these women-led food enterprises through capacity-building, quality improvement and market linkages to help them develop sustainable businesses.
The event will also feature cultural programmes and training sessions for SHG members on enterprise development, product improvement and business practices.
JKRLM Mission Director Dr Shubhra Sharma said the exhibition would give SHG members exposure to wider markets and help them understand consumer preferences, quality standards, product diversification and marketing strategies.
She said the event would also bring together crafts, food and traditions from different parts of the country, offering visitors an opportunity to experience India’s cultural diversity.
