Chandigarh National Crafts Mela
fair
When it happens
November
Ten days spanning late November into early December — the 15th edition ran 28 November to 7 December 2025.
Significance
A contemporary state-backed crafts fair about fifteen editions old — the northern counterpart to Surajkund, and far less known.
Why it's celebrated
Built as a livelihood platform rather than a commemoration: craftspeople from across India are brought to sell directly to buyers.
How it's celebrated
Craft stalls and live demonstrations run all day on a purpose-built crafts-village campus, with folk troupes from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and further afield performing morning and evening.
Key rituals
None — it is a trade and crafts fair.
Beliefs & spiritual meaning
None.
History & origins
Run by the North Zone Cultural Centre with the UT Department of Art and Culture, on a campus built specifically to host crafts.
Frequently asked
When is the Chandigarh National Crafts Mela?+
Ten days from late November into early December — the fifteenth edition ran 28 November to 7 December 2025, at Kalagram in Manimajra.
How is it different from Surajkund?+
It is the northern counterpart and much less known, run by the North Zone Cultural Centre with the UT Department of Art and Culture. The 2025 edition brought craftspeople from 24 states, and the appeal is buying directly from the makers rather than through a shop.
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