Asia’s largest Cattle Fair begins in Bihar

Patna, Nov 24: Asia’s largest cattle fair at Sonepur in Bihar began on Monday with a call to adapt the event into a big tourist attraction.

“We have to give a new twist to this unique fair to attract more and more domestic and foreign tourists in the coming years,” Anita Devi, Bihar’s tourism minister, said at the inauguration.

The cattle fair is held annually, beginning on Kartik Poornima, at Sonepur in Saran district, about 30 km from Patna. The fair ground is an extensive 500 acres of land near the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak rivers.

Cows, buffaloes, oxen, goats, horses, donkeys, monkeys, rabbits, bears, cats and guinea pigs are traded at the fair. Boat rides and free elephant rides at the fair have become very popular among the visitors. (IANS)