Nagpur: City’s iconic Reshimbagh ground carried a distinct, mouth-watering aroma, a blend of smoky earthen pots, coastal spices, and simmering gravies from March 11 to March 22, courtesy the Mahalaxmi Saras 2026 exhibition organised by Zilla Parishad. The exhibition, featuring over 400 stalls, saw female entrepreneurs showcase their skills and products, taking the expo’s sales to a whopping 10 crore.From Kolhapur to the breezy coasts of Alibaug, every corner of the state found its representation. Sangeeta, from Pune, said, “We are selling dishes like ‘tamda rassa’, ‘pandhra rassa’, and seafood, cooked in typical Puneri masalas.” To ensure authenticity, her team ordered fresh fish and crabs from Pune daily.Similarly, the Kolhapuri stall, supported by the Umed Foundation, saw a massive turnout for their biryani. “This exhibition helped our household financially. The response was really good,” the owners noted, highlighting the event’s role in economic upliftment.A group from Chandrapur, led by Ruplata Upre and her team, featured the ‘matka roti’ .While they received a pretty decent footfall, the sheer experience of the exhibition was a bigger victory. “The most important thing we’ve earned here is confidence,” said Rupali. Ashwini Thakre from Dhule, specialising in Khandeshi style, pivoted her strategy based on the competition. “We usually sell both veg and non-veg, but as there are a lot of non-veg stalls here, we’ve only kept veg items,” she explained. The journey wasn’t without its hurdles. Vaishali Rajwade from Washim recalled a slow start: “The first three days were very difficult, but then people started coming from far away plpaces specifically to eat our biryani.”The Vinayak Bachat Gut from Sangli faced a different problem — running out of food! After selling 40 plates of akkha masoora in a single morning, Sindhu Kadam had to rush to the local city market to replenish supplies as the demand far outstripped their expectations.Snehalata Valokar from Ramtek, who brought live fish to cook on site, expressed her desire to inspire others. “There are a lot of people I know who can cook really well but earn only Rs 200 rupees everyday as house helps, I will surely encourage them to put up stalls,” she said.The visitors were equally impressed. Mrunal Patil, a local attendee, remarked, “I have specially come here to support women entrepreneurs. I like how every stall brings the taste of their own cooking style.” Others, like Devi Maheshwari, praised the hygiene and reasonable pricing, noting a sense of pride in supporting these grassroots businesses.As the curtains fell on Mahalaxmi Saras 2026, it left behind a legacy of flavours and women empowerment. It proved that when given a platform, the women of Maharashtra can turn a simple recipe into a thriving business, one plate at a time.
