The stage is set for 'Saras Mela 2025', the country's most spectacular celebration of culture, craft, and cuisine. The grand fair will be held from October 4 to 13 at Mela Ground, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Punjab cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora will inaugurate the festival on Saturday, while state's Tourism and Cultural Affairs minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond will open the first "star night" later in the day. Ludhiana deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain said that the vibrant festival will bring together over 1,000 artisans from across India, showcasing an exquisite collection of rare handicrafts, traditional artworks, and handcrafted treasures. Star Nights (6pm onwards) The event will also feature electrifying performances by renowned Punjabi artists, promising evenings filled with music, dance, and entertainment. Tickets for the evening star nights are available online via the district app or offline at the venue. Here's the tentative list of who all will perform at "Star Nights" The Mela has been extended by two days, now until October 15, after "Star Nights" were cancelled as a mark of condolence for Punjabi singer Rajvir Jawanda's sudden demise. – October 4: Gurdas Maan – October 5: Kulwinder Billa – October 6: (Star Night cancelled due to heavy rain prediction) – October 7: (Cancelled due to heavy rains) – October 8 & 9: (Cancelled due to the passing of Punjabi singer Rajvir Jawanda) – October 10: Ensemble of Basant Kur, Pari Pandher, Gurnam Bhullar – October 11: Kanwar Grewal, Vicky Dhillon, Manraj Patar – October 12: Josh Brar – October 13: Satinder Sartaaj - October 14: Dilpreet Dhillon, Sweetaj Brar, Prabh Bains, Asmeet Sehra, Kala Grewal - October 15: Ranjit Bawa Competitions and workshops From 3 pm to 6 pm every day, the Saras Mela 2025 will host engaging workshops and competitions celebrating creativity and tradition. On October 4, a Bhangra and Giddha workshop will immerse participants in Punjabi folk dance, followed by a painting competition on October 5. A turban tying workshop on October 6 will teach traditional techniques, while a live pottery workshop on October 7 explores the art of clay. Creativity will continue with a bottle painting competition on October 8, Mehendi (henna) competition on October 9, and a Rangoli competition on October 10. An origami workshop on October 11 offers a unique crafting experience, followed by a face painting competition on October 12. The festival concludes on October 13 with a photography competition, capturing the Mela’s vibrant spirit. Special performance A special highlight on October 4 would be a heartfelt performance by Bhavna and Palak, two visually impaired sisters from the Institute of Blind, Jamalpur. Produced by Ludhiana district administration in collaboration with Bunty Bains, the song introduced by Gurdas Maan, celebrates resilience and talent. Mela proceeds to support flood victims Jain announced that all proceeds from Saras Mela 2025 will support Flood Relief Funds, aiding communities impacted by recent floods in Punjab. Jain warmly invited residents to attend in large numbers, enjoy the spectacular performances, explore unique crafts, savor delicious cuisines, and support the flood relief efforts.
