Sonepur Cattle Fair

File:Lord Vishnu.jpeg 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/special/the-gentle-giants-of-sonepur/20161205.htm|title=The gentle giants of Sonepur|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825145624/http://www.rediff.com/news/special/the-gentle-giants-of-sonepur/20161205.htm|archive-date=2017-08-25|df=}} 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.[http://www.indobase.com/events/details/sonepur-cattle-fair.php Sonepur Cattle Fair 2007 - Sonepur Cattle Fair, India 2007 - Sonepur Cattle Fair Bihar, India 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209201547/http://www.indobase.com/events/details/sonepur-cattle-fair.php |date=2008-02-09 }}

Gajendhra Moksha legendnto 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.

File:Sonpur-Mela-2017.jpg

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patna-news/dna-profiling-of-elephants-at-patna-s-sonepur-fair-to-stop-illegal-transactions-101667797816748.html|title=DNA profiling of elephants at Patna’s Sonepur fair to stop illegal transactions}} Numerous stalls are also set up at the grounds of the Sonpur Cattle Fair. Trade in elephants has been prohibited at Sonpur 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/at-the-centuries-old-sonepur-cattle-fair-animals-are-no-longer-the-main-attraction-4205159.html|title=At the centuries-old Sonepur cattle fair, animals are no longer the main attraction|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113002637/http://www.firstpost.com/india/at-the-centuries-old-sonepur-cattle-fair-animals-are-no-longer-the-main-attraction-4205159.html|archive-date=2017-11-13|df=}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/tuskers-bid-adieu-to-sonepur-mela/articleshow/61521260.cms|title=Tuskers bid adieu to Sonepur Mela|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113153225/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/tuskers-bid-adieu-to-sonepur-mela/articleshow/61521260.cms|archive-date=2017-11-13|df=}} In 2017, the Central Government banned the sale of cattles under the Prevention of cruelty to Animal Rules at Sonepur cattle fair.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Mohd Imran |title=India’s restriction on cattle sale has dulled the shine of ‘Asia’s largest animal festival’ |url=https://scroll.in/article/946389/indias-restriction-on-cattle-sale-has-dulled-the-shine-of-asias-largest-animal-festival |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}

A 'railgram' stall is set up by Railways,{{cite web|url=http://www.jagran.com/bihar/vaishali-if-the-sonpur-mela-are-roaming-then-definitely-see-the-rall-village-exhibition-17024974.html|title=अगर सोनपुर मेला घूम रहे हैं तो रेल ग्राम प्रदर्शनी जरूर देखें|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093150/http://www.jagran.com/bihar/vaishali-if-the-sonpur-mela-are-roaming-then-definitely-see-the-rall-village-exhibition-17024974.html|archive-date=2017-11-14|df=}} where toy train is also erected for children.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/agm-inaugurates-railgram-at-sonepur-fair/articleshow/61535616.cms|title=AGM inaugurates ‘Railgram’ at Sonepur fair|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113170819/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/agm-inaugurates-railgram-at-sonepur-fair/articleshow/61535616.cms|archive-date=2017-11-13|df=}} Sonpur Mela continues to attract foreign tourists who arrive with the motive of capturing various elements of rural settlement.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Rustic-touch-of-Sonepur-Mela-attracts-foreigners/articleshow/49955254.cms|title=Rustic touch of Sonepur Mela attracts foreigners|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831110139/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Rustic-touch-of-Sonepur-Mela-attracts-foreigners/articleshow/49955254.cms|archive-date=2017-08-31|df=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1151127/jsp/bihar/story_55367.jsp|title=Through foreign eyes, Sonepur fares better Visitors say state's cattle mela mirrors real India more than Pushkar fair does|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825102702/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1151127/jsp/bihar/story_55367.jsp|archive-date=2017-08-25|df=}} 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 Sonpur fair,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/foreign-tourists-line-up-for-sonepur-fair-swiss-cottages-182088|title=Foreign tourists line up for Sonepur fair Swiss cottages|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025054/https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/foreign-tourists-line-up-for-sonepur-fair-swiss-cottages-182088|archive-date=2017-11-07|df=}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Swiss-cottages-at-Sonepur-fair-a-tourist-delight/articleshow/3748554.cms|title=Swiss cottages at Sonepur fair a tourist delight|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223231435/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Swiss-cottages-at-Sonepur-fair-a-tourist-delight/articleshow/3748554.cms|archive-date=2017-12-23|df=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130913/jsp/bihar/story_17344110.jsp|title=Swiss cottages to cost more|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135831/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130913/jsp/bihar/story_17344110.jsp|archive-date=2017-10-20|df=}} Disneyland park is set up during the Sonpur Mela.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/2-days-on-govt-stalls-yet-to-open-at-sonepur-mela/articleshow/61510940.cms|title=2 days on, govt stalls yet to open at Sonepur Mela|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223231156/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/2-days-on-govt-stalls-yet-to-open-at-sonepur-mela/articleshow/61510940.cms|archive-date=2017-12-23|df=}}

Duration: One Month (approximately in Month of November — December){{cite web|title=Sonpur mela |url=https://www.biharsuperfastkhabar.com/2020/05/sonpur-mela-2020.html}}

Cycle: Yearly

In 2013, the Fair started on November 16 and continued till December 15.{{cite web|title=World Famous Sonepur Cattle Fair to begin on November 16|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/10/world-famous-sonepur-cattle-fair-to-begin-on-november-16/|work=Biharprabha News|access-date=20 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026081133/http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/10/world-famous-sonepur-cattle-fair-to-begin-on-november-16/|archive-date=26 October 2013|df=}}

2018 Sonpur Harihar Kshetra Mela will commence from 21 November and finish on 22 December.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/sonepur-mela-to-be-a-32-day-affair/articleshow/60249505.cms|title=Sonepur Mela to be a 32-day affair|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906190221/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/sonepur-mela-to-be-a-32-day-affair/articleshow/60249505.cms|archive-date=2017-09-06|df=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/vaishali/story/1043888.html|title=इस बार 32 दिनों का होगा हरिहर क्षेत्र सोनपुर मेला|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825103337/http://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/vaishali/story/1043888.html|archive-date=2017-08-25|df=}} It will be for 32 days. The fair will include events like boat racing, Dangal, water surfing, Water Bath Canning.{{cite web|url=http://www.jagran.com/bihar/vaishali-harihar-kshetra-mela-will-for-32-days-16596083.html|title=इस बार 32 दिनों का होगा हरिहर क्षेत्र मेला|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825103639/http://www.jagran.com/bihar/vaishali-harihar-kshetra-mela-will-for-32-days-16596083.html|archive-date=2017-08-25|df=}}

File:Sonepur station.jpeg]]

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.

{{cite web|title=How to reach Sonepur Town?|url=http://www.explorebihar.in/how-to-reach-sonepur-town.html|access-date=4 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125002026/http://www.explorebihar.in/how-to-reach-sonepur-town.html|archive-date=25 November 2013|df=}}

• Pushkar Fair

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na0j1JIXMuE Sonpur Fair Documentary]
• [http://www.sonepurcattlefair.com Official website of Sonepur Mela]
• [http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/Destinations/SonepurFair.htm Some Pictures of the Fair]

Category:Fairs in India

Category:Culture of Bihar

Category:Saran district