Lucknow’s 400-year-old Katki Mela will return to Jhulelal Vatika on the Gomti riverbank from November 24 to January 7 after the Lucknow Municipal Corporation approved a Rs 4.61 crore tender for the 2026-27 edition, creating a major seasonal public event around traditional commerce, food and recreation.
The fair, also known as Budakki ka Mela or Ganga Snan Mela, traditionally begins on Kartik Purnima. Its religious association is linked to devotees taking a ritual dip in the Gomti. The event is organised by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and is held at Jhulelal Vatika, a public venue on the riverbank.
Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar approved the bid submitted by Khushi Traders for this year’s fair. The firm has been directed to deposit 50% of the approved amount within 24 hours, according to the report. The tender value is higher than the Rs 2.77 crore approved for the previous year’s edition.
The fair’s central attraction is its marketplace of traditional and household goods. Stalls typically offer earthenware, grinding stones, winnowing baskets, wicker baskets, iron tools, crockery, bangles, furniture, carpets and blankets. These products give the event a distinct retail character while retaining its connection with older forms of household production and consumption.
Food stalls serving local favourites and rides for children are also planned among the fair’s attractions. The combination of shopping, food, religious observance and entertainment has helped the mela remain a recurring public gathering despite the expansion of shopping malls and online marketplaces.
For the municipal corporation, the event involves more than a temporary shopping area. The approved tender places the civic body at the centre of organising a large public gathering on the Gomti riverbank, including the allocation and management of space for vendors, food outlets and recreational activities. The source report does not provide details of the fair’s layout, expected footfall, sanitation arrangements, traffic plan or safety measures.
The increase in the tender value from Rs 2.77 crore to Rs 4.61 crore represents a rise of Rs 1.84 crore between the two editions. The report does not specify the reasons for the increase or identify the services and facilities covered by the tender amount.
The fair’s continued presence also reflects the role of periodic markets in Lucknow’s urban economy. Alongside its religious significance, Katki Mela offers a physical marketplace for traditional goods and affordable household items, bringing vendors and buyers together at a time when retail is increasingly shifting towards malls and digital platforms.
Khushi Traders must complete the initial payment requirement within 24 hours of the municipal approval. The fair is scheduled to open at Jhulelal Vatika on November 24 and continue until January 7.
