Sonepur, a small town near Patna, India on the convergence of river Ganges and Gandak is known worldwide for having Asia’s largest cattle fair. Malegaon Mela, also known as Harihar Kshetra Mela which was started by Chandragupta Maurya (340 BC – 298 BC) at Hajipur and was shifted to Sonepur under the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1618 AD-1707 AD) starts on Kartick Poornima (full moon).

It’s a fair for the trade of elephants, horses, cows, dogs, etc. Major attraction is the sight of numerous elephants, beautifully decorated for the purpose of sale and horse races and demonstrations. A wide variety of goods are sold in temporary stalls, ranging from garments, to weapons and furniture, toys, agricultural implements, jewelry and handicrafts.

Apart from the fair, people also visit this place for exorcism and do take a holy dip at the convergence and pay respect at the Hariharnath Temple.

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About Photographer

A business and technology consultant by profession started photography as a hobby which slowly turned into his passion. He loves to capture people and their emotions, places and its whereabouts, and makes social documentary.  Raising awareness on social issues through photography is his objective in future. He has always wanted to show the world though his lenses what he sees through his eyes. His photographs have been accepted and exhibited in countries worldwide. He is based out of Kolkata, India.

Sonepur Cattle Fair - Photo Story by Arnab Adak

 

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All the pictures in this post are copyrighted Arnab Adak. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.