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Swadeshi Mela promotes Indian products in Chicago
Over 20,000 people attended the event over its three days
Swadeshi Mela in Naperville / Supplied
The Dtribals Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting tribal products and handcrafts, hosted the inaugural Swadeshi Mela Indian American Trade Fair, in Naperville, Chicago last month. The three-day fair promoted Indian products showcased by over 30 vendors from various states as well as Indian culture through food, dance and music.
Consul General of the India Embassy in Chicago, Somnath Ghosh graced the event as the chief guest. He praised the Dtribals Foundation for hosting a national-level event and expressed the aspiration to make India a developed, knowledge-driven, and inclusive economy by 2047, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and tribal inclusion.
Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, a recipient of the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award in 2022 sponsored the Bharat Darshan handicrafts exhibition at the fair. A first-of-its-kind event in the United States, the exhibition had on display handicrafts, handloom products, and tourism materials from all 28 Indian states.
Another highlight of the event was a millets exhibition sponsored by Dr. Bharat Barai, a recipient of the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award in 2018. A range of millet-based products and their health benefits were showcased by many Indian companies producing millet-based products.
Highlighting the event’s significance, Deepali Saraogi, founder and president of the Dtribals Foundation, said, “Our main aim was to promote Indian products in the United States. We began with this vision but expanded it to create a platform for showcasing various Indian products to benefit a wider audience.”
“Hence, we named it the Indian American Trade Fair, intending to bridge the Indian and American communities, allowing them to discover the uniqueness of India and purchase its products. We also aimed to support small-scale businesses, women-owned enterprises, and aspiring exporters seeking to introduce their products in the U.S. and international markets,” she added.
During the event, two outstanding contributors to social change were felicitated with awards. The International Women of the Year award was presented to Shallu Jindal, chairperson of JSP Foundation, for her impactful work in the tribal areas of Orrisa and Chhattisgarh, positively impacting the lives of 10 million people in India.
The International Man of the Year award was bestowed upon Rahul Prakash, founder and CEO of AmalFarm, for his dedication to promoting India’s GI tag products and improving the livelihoods of 20 million producers.
Rosy Ahluwalia, popular Indian fashion designer, shed a spotlight on the diversity of Indian handloom at a fashion show representing the handloom products from all 28 Indian states.
The event witnessed the presence of numerous Indian community leaders and elected U.S. representatives over its three days. The next edition of the Swadeshi Mela was announced by Ganesh Kar, a founding member of the Dtribals Foundation and president of the North America Chhattisgarh Association. It will take place from September 13-15, 2024 with an expected participation of more than 100 companies.
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