Breeds of Nagaur cattle fair
Home of the Nagori bullock and of a large winter cattle fair held on the open ground outside town in the month of Magh.
Breeds of this place
Best time: January to February, in the month of Magh.
Nagaur is an old fort town in the Thar between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It gave its name to the Nagori, a tall, light-grey bullock bred for speed on sandy roads. Each winter, in the Hindu month of Magh, herders and buyers gather outside the town for the Ramdev cattle fair, named after the folk deity Baba Ramdev, one of the largest animal fairs in Rajasthan.
The Nagori bullock
Nagori cattle are lean and long-legged, white or light grey, with a narrow face and small horns. They are draught animals first, prized for pulling carts at a steady trot over sand, and the bulls were once sent far beyond Rajasthan for road and field work. The cows give only modest milk. As tractors and trucks replaced bullock carts, numbers fell, and breeders and the state now work to keep good herds going.
The fair
The Ramdev fair is held over several days in late January or February. Thousands of bullocks are brought on foot and by truck, along with camels and horses, and buyers come from neighbouring states. There are livestock shows, folk performances and stalls selling bells, nose ropes and halters. The town is also known for its dried fenugreek leaves, sold across India.
A trail idea for Nagaur cattle fair
- Ahhichatragarh The town's old fort, with palaces and gardens inside its walls.
- The fair grounds The open ground where cattle are tethered in long lines during Magh.
- Old town bazaars Look for bells, halters and the town's dried methi leaves.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Nagaur" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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