The 85th All India Industrial Exhibition, commonly known as 'Numaish', is about to start on January 1, 2026. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is expected to officially inaugurate the 45-day event, with the Exhibition Society extending formal invitations to him and several other state ministers. This year, the society has handpicked 1,250 vendors from across India — including traders from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar — to showcase everything from traditional handicrafts and jewelry to the latest electronic goods and home furnishings.
Safety remains a top priority for the organisers given the massive crowds the event draws. Secretary BN Rajeshwar confirmed that arrangements at the Numaish grounds are nearly complete, with a dual layer of security featuring both local police and two dedicated batches of volunteers to manage the gates and the interior. Beyond the shopping, the fair continues to be a major draw for families thanks to its amusement section, which still features the decades-old, adrenaline-pumping ‘well of death’ stunt show alongside modern joyrides.
The exhibition’s journey from a small local fair to a national landmark is quite remarkable. Started in 1938 at Public Gardens under the name Numaish Masnuaat-e-Mulki and was inaugurated by the Last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. What many might not know is that the entire initiative was born from a simple discussion within the Osmania Graduates Association. It was sanctioned by the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Sir Akbar Hydari (the grandfather of actress Aditi Rao Hydari), with an initial capital of just ₹2.50. At the time, it hosted only 50 stalls and lasted a mere 10 days, a far cry from the sprawling, month-and-a-half-long cultural phenomenon it has become now.
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