PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 10 -- A 10-day Swadeshi Mela began in Prayagraj on Thursday, aimed at promoting local products in the lead-up to Diwali. The event has been organised by the District Industries Promotion and Entrepreneurship Development Centre at Bharat Scouts and Guides Inter College in Mumfordganj. The initiative aligns with the decisions made on the final day of the five-day Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) held recently in Greater Noida. As part of this drive, all 75 districts of the state are hosting fairs to encourage the sale and visibility of locally made products, district officials said. Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi' inaugurated the event. Speaking on the occasion, he said that indigenous fairs will serve as a platform to provide small and local entrepreneurs access to larger markets. He said that this event is a local mega show aimed at giving new wings and a new identity to the possibilities of export. Over the next 10 days, a large number of visitors and local residents are expected to attend. The district-level trade show is a concrete and effective step in this direction, he said. The guava and banana products from Prayagraj have earned global recognition. Under the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme and GI tagging, the listing of these products has significantly boosted their exports....