Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: On a crisp December morning at Delhi’s Sunder Nursery, the lawns were alive with the hum of a crowd eager to taste India’s finest regional dishes. But at one stall near the entrance, something else was drawing people in – an infectious confidence, the kind that radiates from someone who knows she has changed not just her own life, but the lives of hundreds of others.
Behind the counter stood Vandana Bharadwaj from Mohali, Punjab, arranging her Phulkari fabrics with practiced ease. The vibrant embroidery shimmered under the winter sun, but it was her journey that sparkled brighter.
Vandana began her journey in 2018 as one of ten women in a small SHG, stitching Phulkari at home while managing household responsibilities. Her leadership soon stood out. First, she headed 19 SHGs in her village organisation and later as the anchor for a growing network of women who trusted her guidance. Today, she leads over 500 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across 25 villages.
Her stall at the Saras Food Festival 2025 showcased not just handcrafted products but also the collective progress and empowerment of women.
A national platform
Across Sunder Nursery, the same spirit reverberated through every lane of the Saras Food Festival 2025. Nearly 300 Lakhpati Didis and SHG entrepreneurs from 25 states had arrived, bringing more than 500 dishes and dozens of handcrafted products, transforming Delhi into a living map of India.
The Saras Aajeevika melas, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development, provide rural women and self-help groups a national platform to sell their products directly, eliminate middlemen, and gain vital market exposure.
Through workshops on packaging, design, communication, and marketing, the melas equip them with skills to upgrade their products, increase incomes, and connect with buyers from across the country and beyond.
Handloom display
Just across from Vandana stall, a member from Maa SHG from Odisha had set up her handloom display. Having joined the SHG in 2019, she transitioned from local sales to operating her own shop and supplying products to retailers.
“We were local weavers earlier,” she remarked modestly. “After joining the SHG, we received support, accessed easy credit, and benefited from regular visits by Government officials who helped address our business needs and ensured the timely supply of required materials.”
At one of the Saras melas, she recorded sales of Rs 5 lakh in Ikkat cotton fabrics, a milestone her group recalls with both pride and astonishment.
A few stalls away, Preeti Sahu was serving Andhra-style delicacies while simultaneously managing orders for her Raj Bihan Canteen in her home district. Having joined her self-help groups (SHG) in 2012 with 10-15 women, she accessed affordable credit through banks and village-level institutions, enabling her to expand her enterprise.
Makhana products
Further along the row of stalls, Maya Devi from Saharsa, Bihar, was showcasing makhana products as the morning footfall increased. Previously a homemaker, she joined her Jeevika SHG in 2014, beginning with a weekly saving of Rs 10. With accessible credit and consistent institutional support, she gradually developed her makhana enterprise.
Now, she stands at a national platform in Delhi, explaining the uses of her products, processing QR-based transactions, and articulating how collective empowerment has enabled her to build a sustainable livelihood.
