President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Vijayawada this evening for a two-day visit to Andhra Pradesh, timed with the city's Dasara celebrations. She will pray at the Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri tonight and, on Thursday morning, inaugurate the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat, the first time this national fair of women's self-help groups is being held outside Delhi NCR.
The Mela, organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development with the Andhra Pradesh government, has turned the riverside ghat into a showcase of rural women entrepreneurs from across the country.
President Murmu's Vijayawada itinerary
According to the draft schedule shared by state officials, the President will land at Gannavaram Airport from Delhi at around 6:25 pm on Wednesday, October 14. She will then drive to Indrakeeladri to offer prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga between 7:20 pm and 7:40 pm, in the middle of the Dasara Sharannavaratri festivities, and stay overnight in the city.
On Thursday, October 15, she is scheduled to reach Punnami Ghat at 11:30 am to formally open the SARAS Mela. After the programme, she will join self-help group members and "Lakhpati Didis" for lunch, before heading back to Gannavaram Airport and leaving for Delhi at around 2:45 pm. Officials have noted that timings may change.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Oct 14, about 6:25 pm, Gannavaram Airport |
| Temple visit | Kanaka Durga temple, Indrakeeladri, 7:20-7:40 pm |
| Mela inauguration | Oct 15, 11:30 am, Punnami Ghat |
| Lunch | With SHG members and Lakhpati Didis |
| Departure | Oct 15, about 2:45 pm, for Delhi |
| SARAS Mela dates | October 13 to 31, 2026 |
| Participants | 1,500+ SHG women from 30+ States and UTs |
What is the National SARAS Mela?
SARAS Aajeevika Melas are fairs run under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to help women from self-help groups sell directly to city buyers. The national edition has traditionally been held in the Delhi region, so bringing it to Vijayawada is a first.
The 2026 Mela is being held from October 13 to 31 alongside the Dasara celebrations and Vijayawada Utsav 2.0. The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Andhra Pradesh, is the state partner, with support from NABARD and NIRDPR. More than 1,500 women from self-help groups across over 30 States and Union Territories are taking part, with hundreds of stalls set up at the ghat.
What visitors can find
- Textiles: Phulkari from Punjab, Pashmina from Jammu and Kashmir, Ikat and Telia from Telangana, and Paunchei from Mizoram.
- Handicrafts: Meenakari, Dokra, brassware, woodcraft and traditional paintings.
- Food court: 50 stalls serving regional and home-style dishes from different states.
- Pavilions: a Lakhpati Didi Pavilion with women's success stories, a Knowledge Pavilion on branding and packaging, a Convergence Pavilion linking women with government departments, and a Demo Pavilion with live handloom weaving.
- Installation: a 16-foot sculpture titled "SHAKTI - The Spirit of Lakhpati Didi".
Who will be at the inauguration
Besides the President, the guest list includes Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Rural Development and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu. Ministers of State Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Kamlesh Paswan and Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, along with state ministers and local MP Kesineni Sivanath, are also expected.
Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad reviewed the arrangements with officials earlier this week and said elaborate, stringent arrangements are being made for the visit.
Why it matters for Andhra Pradesh
For Vijayawada, hosting the President and a national fair during Dasara is a big boost. The Kanaka Durga temple draws lakhs of devotees during Navratri, and the Mela adds a shopping and cultural attraction for visitors coming to the city.
For self-help group women, the fair is a chance to meet buyers and corporate partners directly. The government's target is to create 6 crore Lakhpati Didis, women earning at least Rs 1 lakh a year, by 2029, and platforms such as SARAS and the eSARAS online store are part of that plan.
What happens next
As is usual for a VIP visit, commuters should be prepared for traffic diversions around Indrakeeladri on Wednesday evening and Punnami Ghat on Thursday morning while the President's convoy moves. Once the formal inauguration is done, the Mela will stay open to the public until October 31, giving Vijayawada residents more than two weeks to visit.
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