With the sounds of dhol tasha, Pune’s Bhimthadi Jatra set to colour the weekend

The Bhimthadi Jatra, held at College of Agriculture, Pune, is where handcrafted artefacts, traditional food, organic and sustainable products, and first-hand experience of skills such as pottery, meet the entrepreneurial spirit of women. The fair, which has entered its 18th edition and comprises more than 325 stalls, will be held till December 25.

The Bhimthadi Jatra’s aim is “to empower women socio-economically” and develop their leadership skills. The event is a platform for women-led businesses to interact with prospective urban clientele “thus ensuring a substantial contribution in the financial growth of the country”.

The fair was inaugurated by saree stylist Ashwini Narayan in the presence of Sunanda Pawar, a social activist and trustee of the Agricultural Development Trust in Baramati.

“The Bhimthadi Jatra has become a remarkable platform to celebrate the rich heritage, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit of rural India,” said Pawar, better known as ‘Sunanda tai’.

Fittingly, the inauguration ceremony began with a dance and dhol-tasha performance by students of the college.

International Saree Day collaboration

The special attraction of this inauguration is a saree-dressing workshop by Narayan in connection with the International Saree Day, which is celebrated on December 21. The event also includes a memorial to Padmashree Late Dr Appasaheb Pawar, a path-breaking agriculturalist and chairman of the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT) in Baramati, who had introduced drip irrigation in India. This year marks his 25th death anniversary.

As an environmental commitment, Bhimthadi Jatra 2024 has also been declared as an anti-plastic zone.