Sonepur Cattle Fair

Sonpur Cattle Fair
Sonpur Famous Fair
Official name Sonpur Mela, Harihar Kshetra Mela
Observed by Hindus
Type Religious
Begins Kartik Poornima
2017 date 2 November - 3 December[1]

Sonpur Cattle Fair (Hindi: सोनपुर पशु मेला) is held on Kartik Poornima (the full moon day) in the month of November in Sonpur, Bihar,[2][3] on the confluence of river Ganges and Gandak.[4][5] It is also known as Harihar Kshetra Mela and it attracts visitors from all over Asia. Till date, it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month.[6] It has its origins during ancient times. This is when Chandragupta Maurya (340 - 297 BCE) used to buy elephants and horses across the river Ganges. The Sonpur Cattle Fair once used to attract traders from places as distant as Central Asia. In 2017, the Fair started on November 2 and continued till December 3.

History

Lord Vishnu with Gaj and Grah

Originally, the venue of the fair was Hajipur and only the performance of the puja used to take place at the Harihar Nath temple of Sonpur. However, under the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the venue of the fair got shifted to Sonpur.[7] The temple of Harihar Nath is believed to have been originally built by Lord Rama, on his way to the court of King Janak to win the hand of Mata Sita. It is further said that Raja Man Singh later got the temple repaired. The Harihar Nath temple, as it stands today, was built by Raja Ram Narain, an influential person during the late Mughal period.[8]

Gajendhra Moksha legend is associated with the temple in Sonepur. It involves the story of King Indrayamuna and the Gandharva chief Huhu, who were turned into an elephant and a crocodile respectively by the curse of great sages Agasthya and Dewala muni. One day the elephant's leg was caught by the crocodile.It is said that the location was in Nepal. It is said that both of them fought hard for many years with their herds and while fighting,they came to the place near this temple. But ultimately the King Elephant weakened and took the lotus flower from river in its trunk and prayed to the supreme god Vishnu (Hari) to save him. Vishnu heard his prayer and cut down the crocodile with his Chakra. But the touch of the chakra released Huhu from the curse. Vishnu also released Indrayamuna from his curse and took him to his abode Vaikuntha.

Since Sonpur is situated at the convergence of the sacred rivers Ganges and Gandak, the Hindus regard it as a holy site. One of the purposes of the people visiting the Sonpur Cattle Fair, apart from the fair, is to take a holy dip at the convergence and pay respects at the Hariharnath Temple.

The Fair Trade

foreign tourists at sonpur mela fair

Many farm animals can be bought at the Sonpur mela from all breeds of dogs, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies, Persian horses, rabbits, goats and even the occasional camel. Many varieties of birds and poultry are also available. The area that attracts all, however, is the Haathi Bazaar where elephants are lined up for sale. The Sonpur Fair is the only place where such a large number of elephants are traded — although they cannot legally be sold. Numerous stalls are also set up at the grounds of the Sonpur Cattle Fair. Trade in elephants has been prohibited at Sonepur Mela since 2004 owing to strict enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and further denial of transfer of ownership certificate to the elephant owners. One will find a wide variety of goods in these stalls, ranging from garments, to weapons and furniture, toys, utensils and agricultural implements, jewelry and handicrafts. A major attraction is the sight of numerous elephants, beautifully decorated for the purpose of sale. In 2001, the number of elephants brought to Sonpur Mela was 92, 354 elephants in 2004,[9] while in 2016, 13 elephants made it to the fair, only for display, not for sale. In 2017, there were 3 tuskers at the fair.[10]

A 'railgram' stall is set up by Railways,[11] where toy train is also erected for children.[12] Sonepur Mela continues to attract foreign tourists who arrive with the motive of capturing various elements of rural settlement.[13][14] Apart from the photo opportunity, elephants continue to lure most foreign tourists. Swiss cottages are set up by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) at the Sonepur fair,[15] with facilities of Internet facility, motor boat ride in river Gandak , food at the tourist village and pre-paid taxis from Patna Airport to Sonpur fair.[16][17] Disneyland park is set up during the Sonpur Mela.[18]

Info

Harihar Kshetra Sonpur Mela in Official Records[19]
YearElephantsHorsesOx
20019215,0351,00,000
200435415,0351,00,000
2007778,5801,00,000
2014395,5801,00,000
2015174,5801,00,000
2016134,0201,00,000
201735,4001,00,000

Duration: One Month (approximately in Month of November — December)[20]

Cycle: Yearly

In 2013, the Fair started on November 16 and continued till December 15.[21]

2017 Sonpur Harihar Kshetra Mela will commence from 2 November and finish on 3 December.[22][23] It will be for 32 days. The fair will include events like boat racing, Dangal, water surfing, Water Bath Canning.[24]

Transportation

Sonpur railway station

Sonpur is easily accessible by Roadways and Railways. Moreover, it is only 25 kilometers from Bihar's Capital Patna, which is well connected by Airways, Railways and Roadways to the other parts of the country. During the time of Fair, BSTDC also organizes Ferries from Patna to Sonpur. There are various taxi and car rental services that provide private transport to expats, tourists, with driver to Sonpur mela and back. [25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Biha tourism sonpur mela cattle fair". Archived from the original on 2014-11-02.
  2. ↑ "Marriages made in Sonepur cattle fair". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  3. ↑ "Destinations :: Sonepur". Archived from the original on 2017-11-01.
  4. ↑ "Sonepur Mela kickstarts". Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  5. ↑ "Destinations :: Patna". Archived from the original on 2014-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Sonepur fair losing its elephant charm". Archived from the original on 2017-06-11.
  7. ↑ "The gentle giants of Sonepur". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25.
  8. ↑ Sonepur Cattle Fair 2007 - Sonepur Cattle Fair, India 2007 - Sonepur Cattle Fair Bihar, India 2007 Archived 2008-02-09 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "At the centuries-old Sonepur cattle fair, animals are no longer the main attraction". Archived from the original on 2017-11-13.
  10. ↑ "Tuskers bid adieu to Sonepur Mela". Archived from the original on 2017-11-13.
  11. ↑ "अगर सोनपुर मेला घूम रहे हैं तो रेल ग्राम प्रदर्शनी जरूर देखें". Archived from the original on 2017-11-14.
  12. ↑ "AGM inaugurates 'Railgram' at Sonepur fair". Archived from the original on 2017-11-13.
  13. ↑ "Rustic touch of Sonepur Mela attracts foreigners". Archived from the original on 2017-08-31.
  14. ↑ "Through foreign eyes, Sonepur fares better Visitors say state's cattle mela mirrors real India more than Pushkar fair does". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25.
  15. ↑ "Foreign tourists line up for Sonepur fair Swiss cottages". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  16. ↑ "Swiss cottages at Sonepur fair a tourist delight". Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  17. ↑ "Swiss cottages to cost more". Archived from the original on 2017-10-20.
  18. ↑ "2 days on, govt stalls yet to open at Sonepur Mela". Archived from the original on 2017-12-23.
  19. ↑ "बिहार: सोनपुर पशु मेले में अब तक सिर्फ 3 हाथी पहुंचे". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07.
  20. ↑ "http://www.sonepurmela.in/gettofair.php". External link in |title= (help)
  21. ↑ "World Famous Sonepur Cattle Fair to begin on November 16". Biharprabha News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "Sonepur Mela to be a 32-day affair". Archived from the original on 2017-09-06.
  23. ↑ "इस बार 32 दिनों का होगा हरिहर क्षेत्र सोनपुर मेला". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25.
  24. ↑ "इस बार 32 दिनों का होगा हरिहर क्षेत्र मेला". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25.
  25. ↑ "How to reach Sonepur Town?". Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
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