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In pictures: Asia’s largest animal fair

Tens of thousands flock to Sonepur in eastern Indian state of Bihar every November to buy and sell animals.

An elephant arrives, along with thousands of visitors, at the Sonepur animal fair in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. 
By Nazes Afroz
Published On 23 Nov 2013

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Every year, tens of thousands of men and women congregate at the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Gandak and Sone in the eastern Indian state of Bihar to take a holy dip and then buy and sell animals.

The month-long fair at Sonepur starting on full moon day in November is thought to be Asia’s largest animal fair. 

The two big attractions are the elephant and the horse markets. Other pets like birds, rabbits, dogs, cats and mice are sold too.

Two elephants are on display to be sold for $70,000. Until about two decades ago a few hundred elephants were sold at the fair. But with new laws restricting sale of animals, the number has come down about 30 this year.
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Thousands of horses, from finest to the ordinary, are sold at the fair. Owners and their keepers race their horses in front of the prospective buyers soon after daybreak.
Expensive thoroughbred like Khorasani horses are carefully groomed and massaged.
The fair takes place at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Gandak and Sone on the full moon of November every year. It(***)s also a pilgrimage of Hindus who take a holy dip at the river at the break of dawn.
Tens of thousand of pilgrims arrive at Sonepur all through the night. With no tents or shelter available they spend the cold November night under the sky. They also perform some religious rituals with song and dance all night long.
Holy men arriving at the fair ground.
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A pensive young bird-seller at the bird market. One can buy many varieties of pet birds from the fair.
Basic meals mainly from chickpea or chickpea flour are sold all over the fair ground. This is all that poor villagers coming to the fair can afford.
A grandfather and granddaughter eat a meal after a holy dip in the river.
The dog market has many sorts of canines including Saint Bernard.
Colourful reins, stirrups and ribbons are sold in great numbers to decorate the horses and cattle.
A proud owner displays his cow that produces 40 litres of milk everyday while prospective buyers look on. 
This old elephant keeper has been visiting the fair with his elephants for more than fifty years.

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