Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 Begins in Guwahati

The eight-day Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 begins on 21 October at Farm Gate, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, and concludes on 28 October. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, is organising the event, which is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Handloom and Handicraft Products

The Mela features 75 artisans, including 31 women, displaying approximately 40 varieties of handloom and handicraft products. Artisans from across India, including the North-Eastern States, are participating. Handloom products are woven on looms operated by hand, while handicrafts are made by artisans using manual skills and tools. The Mela provides a physical marketplace for products made by participating artisans and promotes their access to wider markets. The Guwahati event is part of a series of Shilp Samagam Melas organised by the Ministry since 2022. A 2026 edition in Mysuru concluded on 19 October, two days before the Guwahati event began.

Artisan Groups and Constitutional Context

The Mela’s stated beneficiaries include artisans belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Safai Mitras and Denotified Tribes (DNTs). Article 341 of the Constitution provides for the specification of Scheduled Castes, while Article 340 provides for a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes. Denotified Tribes include communities that were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. The Act was repealed in 1952. Safai Mitra is a term used for sanitation workers.

BHARAT-TULIP Programme

The Mela also promotes BHARAT-TULIP, or the Traditional Artisans Upliftment Livelihood Programme. The programme seeks to expand market access for artisans’ products through physical outlets and e-commerce platforms. The event’s stated objectives include supporting market access, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods for artisans from the identified communities. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the organising ministry for the Guwahati edition.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Guwahati Mela runs from 21 to 28 October 2026 at Farm Gate, Khanapara.
• The Mela is organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• BHARAT-TULIP stands for Traditional Artisans Upliftment Livelihood Programme.
• Article 341 concerns Scheduled Castes, and Article 340 provides for a commission on socially and educationally backward classes.

The Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, was repealed in 1952. The Guwahati edition features approximately 40 varieties of handloom and handicraft products.