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Next: about 24 Nov to 23 Dec 2026

Sonepur Mela

The month-long fair at the meeting of the Ganges and the Gandak in Bihar, once the largest cattle fair in Asia.

Photo: Abhifrm.masaurhi at English Wikipedia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cattle at Sonepur Mela

The Sonepur fair begins on Kartik Purnima, when pilgrims bathe at the meeting of the Gandak and the Ganges and visit the Harihar Nath temple. For centuries it was famous above all as a market for animals: cattle, horses, camels and, in the past, elephants changed hands over several weeks. The trade has shrunk with tractors and with new rules on animal sales, and the fair today is as much about stalls, rides and cultural shows as livestock. Cattle and buffaloes are still brought for sale from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and further away, and the bullock market remains part of the day's business for farmers of the Gangetic plain.

The breeds

BachaurThe grey draught breed of north Bihar.HarianaBrought in from the west for draught and milk.PonwarThe black and white cattle of Pilibhit.

Also part of it, and being written: Kherigarh (The quick-moving draught breed of the Terai in Uttar Pradesh.).

About this page

Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Sonepur Cattle Fair" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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