MP: Van Mela will be held for first time in city of Mahakal, CM Mohan Yadav will inaugurate, these will be key attractions
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the Van Mela (Forest Fair) in Ujjain on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Dussehra Ground, Sethi Nagar, Ujjain. CM will release natural "Holi Color Gulal" and "Mahakal Memorial Gifts" produced by MFP Park. He will also launch a new initiative of the Forest Department, "Mahakal Forest Prasadam."
The Mahakal Forest Fair will be based on the theme "Prosperous Forest, Happy People," and will run from February 11 to 16, 2026. This is the first time a Forest Fair is being organized in Ujjain, the city of Mahakal.
CM Mohan Yadav will inaugurate and inspect the Forest Department's exhibition. The fair is being organized to promote the display, conservation, cultivation, processing, and marketing of non-wood forest produce collected by the state's forest dwellers.
Showcasing the rich biodiversity of the state
The Forest Fair is a powerful medium to showcase the rich biodiversity of the state. Non-wood forest produce collectors, Van Dhan Kendras, Primary Minor Forest Produce Committees, traders, and representatives from the herbal and Ayurvedic industries will participate in the event, displaying and selling their products.
Non-wood forest produce is a significant source of rural livelihoods. The non-wood forest produce-based economy in the state is a vital component of the state's rural economy, supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.
250 stalls are being set up
Approximately 250 impressive and attractive stalls are being set up at the Forest Fair, including 16 for exhibitions by various departments, 76 for Primary Minor Forest Produce Committees and Van Dhan Kendras, a grand stall for Vindhya Herbals, five for live demonstrations of minor forest produce, and 50 for OPD (free medical consultation). In addition, 76 stalls are reserved for private stallholders and 16 for food vendors.
Major attractions
Visitors will also have access to a kids' zone, wheelchairs, golf carts, a sitting area, a water point, and a selfie point. The fair will also feature a buyer-seller conference, free medical consultations by Ayurvedic doctors and traditional healers, informative cultural programs, and traditional food items.
In the forest fair, huge sculpture of cheetah family and dinosaur, wheel-chair and golf cart facility for senior citizens, separate seating arrangement for people seeking treatment in OPD, free bus facility from Mahakal temple to the fair premises, attractive and fun kids zone facility for children, Gondi cuisine of Bandhavgarh, Van Bhojan Rasoi of Chhindwara and Dal Paniya of Alirajpur will be the special centre of attraction in the food zone.