Patna: Industries minister Dilip Jaiswal and food and consumer protection minister Leshi Singh on Thursday inaugurated the Mahila Udyami Phagunotsav 2026, organised by the Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh at Gyan Bhawan in Patna.Running from Feb 19 to 23, the event features 225 stalls showcasing products from Bihar and several other states. The exhibits include silk and handloom textiles, jewellery, local food items such as sattu and pickles, Mithila paintings, and traditional Tikuli and Sikki art. Modern innovations like 3D-printed items and robotics are also on display.
Addressing the gathering, Jaiswal described the festival as a celebration of women’s hard work, confidence, and self-reliance, noting that women in Bihar are increasingly establishing themselves in technology, production, and services. He said both the central and state govts are implementing several schemes to support their entrepreneurial growth.Lesi Singh said the number of women entrepreneurs in Bihar has crossed 9 lakh, reflecting a significant shift as women step beyond the domestic sphere to excel in diverse professional fields. She praised the Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh for its long-standing commitment to identifying and promoting local talent. Several other dignitaries were also present at the inauguration.Usha Jha, president of the Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh, said that 20% of the stalls were provided free of cost to women from economically weaker backgrounds to ensure inclusive participation.Among the exhibitors is Priya Ranjan from a Patna-based brand employing 15 people to create sustainable, handcrafted apparel. Her Holi-and summer-themed collection includes white and floral hand-painted designs on chanderi, cotton, and georgette, priced between Rs2,200 and Rs22,000.“The variety here is incredible, especially the sustainable fashion options that blend modern cuts with traditional painting,” said Ananya Singh, a visitor. Another unique participant is Sujit Chakraborty, who has returned to Patna after 20 years to showcase apparel such as sarees and kaftans created by converting paintings into digital formats.In the food section, Sangita Gupta from Rohtas offers high-protein oyster mushrooms priced at Rs240 per kg, along with mushroom pickles and traditional delicacies such as paneer balushai, chena ka khurma, and teesi ka laddu.Nearby, Kavita Bharadwaj sells herbal-based puja products, including akhand deep and terracotta dhoop dani. She also offers herbal gulaal made from arrowroot in vibrant colours, priced at Rs25 per 50 grams.The fair aims to provide direct market access and facilitate networking with various government and non-government agencies to help women scale their enterprises.
