Ten-Day Khadi Festival and Exhibition Begins in Meerut

What Happened

A ten-day Khadi Festival and Exhibition has begun in Meerut, organised by the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board. Rajya Sabha Member Dr. Laxmikant Bajpayee and other public representatives inaugurated the event on Saturday, October 18, 2026. They toured the venue and felicitated traders who travelled from different states to participate.

Festival Highlights

The exhibition showcases a wide variety of traditional Indian products, handicrafts, textiles and indigenous goods. Visitors can browse Khadi garments, Banarasi silk sarees, warm clothes, Kashmiri shawls, dry fruits, crockery, herbal products, home decor items, and region-specific goods. Specific regional items include brass products from Moradabad, Kantha embroidery from West Bengal, silk items from Banaras, bedsheets from Pilkhuwa, and wooden handicrafts from Saharanpur. Additionally, Khadi institutions from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar have set up stalls with handwoven textiles and indigenous items.

Statements and Attractions

Shishir Singh, Chief Executive Officer of the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board, stated that the timing aligns with the festive season for celebrations like Durga Puja, Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali. He noted that the event helps visitors buy unique local goods while supporting traditional artisans and small business owners. A Gandhi Pavilion sits at the centre of the venue featuring a spinning wheel to highlight Mahatma Gandhi's legacy and Khadi's role in the freedom movement.

Context

Such exhibitions support rural artisans and village industries by offering them a direct market for their goods. This initiative ties into the broader cultural push to encourage self-reliance and promote local manufacturing. Events of this scale typically recur during peak festive periods across various regions to boost seasonal retail trade.