States » NorthPosted at: Oct 22 2026 3:45PM


Lucknow Diwali Mela to showcase Akanksha initiative that has provided work to over 120 Women

Lucknow, Oct 22 (UNI) UP IASOWA’s first Diwali Mela on October 24 will bring women’s livelihood initiatives into Lucknow’s festive marketplace, including products from Akanksha Samiti’s Masala Mathri Kendra, which has provided employment to more than 120 women.
The spices and snacks produced through the Lucknow centre will feature alongside women’s enterprises, regional crafts and products associated with welfare institutions. For Akanksha, the mela offers an opportunity to connect its work on women’s incomes with customers shopping for Diwali.
Organised by the Uttar Pradesh IAS Officers’ Wives Association, UP IASOWA, the event will be held on the front lawn of CSI Club, Raj Bhavan Colony, from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday.
Dr Neelu Goyal, president of UP IASOWA and Akanksha Samiti, said the organisation’s priority was to help women build financial independence through skills and opportunities to sell their work.
“At Akanksha, we believe that true empowerment is not a charitable gesture; it is an economic breakthrough,” Goyal said.
Building on its work in spice and snack production, Akanksha is introducing vocational stitching programmes covering professional tailoring and garment craftsmanship. The training is intended to give underprivileged women another route to earning independently.
The Samiti will also continue to bring snacks and spices made by regional women’s self help groups to market under its banner. Goyal said connecting these producers with buyers was central to helping rural women turn their skills into livelihoods.
The Diwali Mela will provide a public marketplace for this wider effort. Alongside Akanksha’s products, visitors will find handmade items from Mahila Sharanalay and offerings from Drishti NGO, allowing them to explore work associated with welfare initiatives while making their festive purchases.
The selection will include traditional sarees, chikankari, jewellery, carpets, pottery, handicrafts, apparel and home décor. Food stalls, cultural performances, games and children’s activities will accompany the shopping.
Established in 1987, Akanksha Samiti is the registered social service wing of UP IASOWA. Its committees work in several Uttar Pradesh districts, supporting women and girls through education, healthcare, skill development and income generation, while also helping women and children access welfare schemes and essential services.
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