Diwali is one of the most exciting festivals in India, and many of us in Delhi eagerly look forward to the Blind Relief Association’s Diwali Bazaar. For some families, in Delhi and beyond, visiting this event has become a special tradition that they enjoy year after year. This popular Diwali fair in Delhi, often called the “Blind School Diwali Mela,” is one of the oldest annual events in Delhi. It has been taking place for 43 years, except in 2020 when it was suspended.

It is that time of the year again and there is a distinct nip in the air. Diwali is around the corner. The Diwali Bazaar is a week-long event to be held from 22nd – 28th October 2024 from 10:30 am – 08:00 pm. The venue is the Blind School grounds on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, very near the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi.

Here are quick details

Dates for Blind School Diwali Mela 2024

Date: 22nd – 28th October 2024

Time for Blind School Diwali Mela 2023

Time: 10:30 AM – 08: 00 PM

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Location for Blind School Diwali Mela 2023

Address: The Blind Relief Association, Delhi
Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, next to Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi 110003

Google Map

Entry: Free

How to reach Blind School, Diwali Mela

You can drive to this Mela and below are helpful details based on our earlier experiences.

Parking for Blind School Diwali Mela

Paid Parking at Sunder Nursery, Nizamuddin
Paid E-Rickshaw service available between Parking Lot and venue.

Nearest metro to Blind School Diwali Mela

The closest metro station to Blind School Diwali Mela is Khan Market on Violet Line. It’s a 4 min walk away.

What to look out for at Blind School Diwali Mela

Items made by members of the Blind Relief Association

The Diwali Bazaar began in 1980 as a small event to display the wonderful products made by visually impaired trainees and workers from the Blind Relief Association. Over the years, this event has grown leaps and bounds and is now one of the biggest places for festive shopping in Delhi. As of now, there are approximately 250 stalls at the Bazaar. However, the main attraction continues to be the colourful candles and diyas made by the Blind Relief Association, which is why the Bazaar started more than forty years ago.

Candles & Diyas: The Bazaar offers around eighty different kinds of candles and diyas. Recently, they have added new scented candles made from soy wax. These scented candles come in four lovely fragrances: lavender, lime orange, oudh twist, and vanilla.

Paper Products: A wide variety of paper products are created by the trainees and staff. This collection includes bags, envelopes, gift tags, notebooks, greeting cards, and even beautiful papier-mâché plates, cups, planters, and lampshades.

Cloth Products: Many visitors are pleasantly surprised by the cloth products made by the trainees. In addition to the existing items, new products like organizers, ring bags, laptop bags, sling bags, tote bags, shoe bags, jute bags, and scrunchies have been added to the selection.

Soaps: A new and exciting addition to their offerings last year was “Rangat,” a line of handmade soaps made by our Multi-Skill Trainees as part of their entrepreneurial efforts. These soaps came in three pleasant scents: orange, lavender, and jasmine, with lavender being the most popular choice among customers.

To show the Association’s commitment to a greener planet, they work hard to reduce plastic use. Most of their products are packaged in old Braille papers and clothes, helping to support our environment while showcasing the skills of our trainees.

Café Mast by visually impaired workers

A recent initiative is a café run by trainees who are part of the multi-skill training program. These trainees learn how to bake and make a variety of delicious foods. They can prepare tasty sandwiches, burgers, cheese open toast, cookies, muffins, and many kinds of hot and cold drinks. You can find their yummy creations for sale at the Association’s Diwali Bazaar.

The best part is that the café is completely managed by the trainees themselves. They take care of everything, from taking customer orders to handling cash transactions, and they work hard to provide great customer service to everyone who visits.

Also Read: Top Diwali Melas In Delhi

Massages by trained visually impaired masseurs

The Bazaar gives a wonderful chance for the visually impaired masseurs who have been trained at the Association to show off their skills. Visitors who are tired after shopping can relax and enjoy calming head, shoulder, and foot massages for a very reasonable price. This is a great way for the masseurs to demonstrate what they can do while helping guests feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Special attractions at Blind School Diwali Mela

 Arts, crafts, handloom

 

In addition to the amazing products made by the visually impaired, the Bazaar has about 250 stalls that sell a huge variety of items that shoppers find both interesting and fun. These stalls are set up by vendors from all over the country and offer a wide selection of beautiful designer clothes, stylish shoes, popular jewelry, fancy handbags, and elegant home decorations. You can also find traditional crafts, great gift items, toys for children, gardening supplies, popular herbal products, and delicious ready-to-eat or packaged foods. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy!

Free Space for NGOs at Blind School Diwali Bazaar

As an added goodwill activity, the Bazaar provides free-of-cost stall space and facilities to NGOs functioning in the fields of welfare of differently-abled persons or artisans from underprivileged backgrounds. They too sell a variety of handmade items that add value to life.

Why do we visit Blind School Diwali Bazaar?

The Diwali Bazaar organized by the Blind Relief Association is a special event that supports a worthy cause. Their initiative is an inspiration in multiple ways:

• Highlight the talents and abilities of visually impaired people and help everyone learn more about what this sector of society is capable of achieving.
• Promote the idea of an inclusive society where everyone is treated equally and with respect, regardless of their physical or mental qualities.
• Raise funds that would be instrumental in supporting education, training, and many other important services that the Blind Relief Association provides for visually impaired individuals.

Through this event, we want to make a positive impact and bring everyone together!

About the Blind Relief Association

The Blind Relief Association is about to celebrate an amazing milestone of nearly eighty years of dedicated work. For all these years, it has made a big difference by helping visually impaired people through education and skill training.

This Association is a non-governmental organization located in Delhi. It runs several important programs, including the Jormal Periwal Memorial (J.P.M.) Senior Secondary School for the Blind, which is a residential school for boys from Nursery all the way to Class XII. They also have the Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education (Visual Impairment), which trains teachers. Additionally, there is a computer training center and a vocational training center to help people learn useful skills.

The Association has a large hostel for its students and trainees, along with many other helpful services. These include producing Braille materials, recording audiobooks, creating e-books, providing orientation and mobility training, offering assistive devices, helping with job placements, and even providing health care.

Because of its brave and important efforts, the Association was recognised with the prestigious National Award for the Best Institution Working for the Cause of Persons with Disabilities in 2012. This award was given by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

For more details, visit blindrelief.org