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National Crafts Mela at Kalagram, Chandigarh
Craftspeople from across India working at their stalls in a village built for crafts
The Chandigarh National Crafts Mela fills Kalagram, the crafts village in Manimajra on the Chandigarh–Panchkula road, for ten days a year. It usually runs from late November into early December, and the craftspeople sit at their own stalls, so you buy a bandhani dupatta or a Madhubani painting from the person who made it. The Chandigarh administration and the North Zone Cultural Centre announce the dates between late September and November.
Kalagram was built as a permanent crafts village on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road; the mela brings handicraft and handloom traditions from across India to it for ten days each year, from late November into early December.
The Chandigarh administration and the North Zone Cultural Centre set the dates each year and announce them between late September and November.
The legend
On 23 March 1985 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announced the North Zone Cultural Centre.
It was the first of the country's regional cultural centres, caring for the arts and crafts of the north, from Rajasthan to Ladakh.
Its Chandigarh ground is Kalagram in Manimajra, a village of the arts where craftspeople work in the open.
Here the centre and the city administration hold the National Crafts Mela every year; the 14th was in 2024.
Customs
Craftspeople at work
In 2024 more than 600 craftspeople and folk artists came from 22 states.
Crafts of India
Bandhej tie-dye, Madhubani painting, zari-zardozi gold embroidery and woodcarving sit on neighbouring stalls.
A Punjab village
In 2024 the mela recreated a Punjab village, carved the twelve zodiac signs in stone and hosted a Lalit Kala Akademi exhibition.
Lok Kala Sadhak
Masters of folk dance and music receive the Lok Kala Sadhak lifetime achievement award.
Words of the festival
Kalagram
"village of the arts", the cultural complex at Manimajra
बांधनी
bandhani
tie-dye, also called bandhej: cloth is bound in tiny knots before dyeing
ज़रदोज़ी
zardozi
embroidery in metal thread, often gold
मधुबनी
Madhubani
folk painting from the Mithila region
True or myth
❌ Myth. The centre is in Patiala; Kalagram is its venue in Chandigarh.
❌ Myth. In 2024 craftspeople came from 22 states, with Madhubani painting and bandhej cloth among the stalls.
✅ True. There are seven such zones today, and the northern one came first.
What the mela is like
Kalagram is the North Zone Cultural Centre's crafts village in Chandigarh, and the mela is its biggest event of the year. The centre, based in Patiala, was the first of India's seven regional cultural centres and looks after the arts of the north, from Rajasthan to Ladakh, but the mela itself is national: in 2024 more than 600 craftspeople and folk artists came from 22 states.
The Tribune counted more than 200 stalls of handicrafts, handlooms and regional food at the 14th edition. Neighbouring tables can hold bandhej (tie-dye, cloth bound in tiny knots before dyeing), Madhubani (folk painting from Mithila in Bihar), zari-zardozi (embroidery in metal thread, often gold) and carved wood. Many makers work at the stall, so you can ask how a piece was made and watch the work.
Folk artists from across India perform through the day, and each evening has a concert. In 2024 the evening line-up mixed Punjabi, Sufi and Bollywood singers with Himachali and Kashmiri folk nights. The Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi runs art workshops and demonstrations (pottery and clay modelling, block printing) and a photography competition on the grounds.
Tickets, timings and practical tips
The details change a little from year to year, so treat these as a guide and check the announcement for the current edition.
- Entry — A small entry fee is charged at the gate. In 2024 entry was free on the first day, and schoolchildren came in free in the mornings.
- Hours — In 2024 the mela was open from 11:00 to 21:30, so you could shop in daylight and stay for the evening concert. Check the hours for the current edition.
- Bring a bag — Ask the maker how to wash or care for hand-dyed cloth before you buy.
- Outside mela time — The National Crafts Mela is the event that brings craftspeople from across India to Kalagram. If crafts are the reason for the visit, come during the mela.
Where Kalagram is
Kalagram is in Manimajra, on the Chandigarh–Panchkula road. It is part of Chandigarh, so any sector hotel works as a base and a cab or auto gets you there; for buses and cabs in the city see getting around Chandigarh. For more craft shopping in the city, see souvenirs in Chandigarh, and for the rest of the city's calendar, Chandigarh festivals.
When to go
Recent editions have run for ten days from the last days of November into the first week of December. Chandigarh Tourism's event page still gives the first or second week of October, so wait for the announcement of the current edition before booking travel. If crafts fairs are the point of the trip, the Surajkund Crafts Mela near Delhi is the other national one.
FAQ
When is the Kalagram craft mela?
Usually for ten days from late November into early December. The Chandigarh administration and the North Zone Cultural Centre announce the dates between late September and November.
What is the Kalagram craft mela ticket price?
There is a small entry fee at the gate; the amount is set for each edition. In 2024 the first day was free.
What are the Kalagram craft mela timings?
In 2024 it was open from 11:00 to 21:30, with folk performances in the day and a concert every evening.
Where is Kalagram in Chandigarh?
In Manimajra, on the Chandigarh–Panchkula road.
Are only Punjabi crafts sold at the mela?
No. In 2024 craftspeople came from 22 states, with Madhubani painting, bandhej cloth and zardozi embroidery among the stalls.
Sources (5)
Facts checked: 22 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.