The much-awaited Swadeshi Mela, a hallmark of self-reliance aimed at promoting the “Vocal for Local” movement, is set to be held for eight days this year. The bhoomipujan ceremony for the mela was performed at the Science College Ground, G E Road, Raipur, with traditional rituals and Vedic chants. The event was organised by the Indian Marketing Development Centre, a unit of the Swadeshi Jagran Foundation. Swadeshi Mela manager Subrata Chaki shared that the fair would showcase unique and indigenous artwork and products from across Chhattisgarh and various parts of the country. “This year, the essence of local craftsmanship will shine even brighter,” he remarked. New executive committee convenor Praveen Maishery emphasised that the mela will bring local sellers’ products, folk arts, and cultural heritage to the forefront. Co-convenor

 

Amarjeet Singh Chhabra stated that over 350 stalls will offer a wide range of useful items. Another co-convenor, Manisha Singh, revealed that her team is actively visiting schools and colleges to encourage women to participate in the evening programmes scheduled daily during the event. The mela promises a mix of traditional cuisines, creative competitions for children, women, and youth, and intellectual discussions on socially relevant topics to raise public awareness. The bhoomipujan ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including State Convenor Jagdish Patel, Welcome Committee Chairperson Sunil Agrawal Basna, Ravindra Singh, Amar Bansal, Digvijay Bhakre, Gopal Krishna Agrawal, Ashu Chandravanshi, along with prominent figures such as Dr Ila Gupta, Sheila Sharma, Shatabdi Pandey, Aarti Dubey, Inder Jain, Sunita Pathak, and Saroj Kumar Singh. A large number of dedicated volunteers were also present.