Sonepur Elephant Fair
Asia's Grand Confluence of Cattle & Culture!
Scale
Asia's Largest Animal Fair
Key Attraction
Decorated Elephants, Horses, Cattle trading
Location
Confluence of Ganges and Gandak Rivers
Timing
Kartik Poornima (November/December)
Watch and Learn! 📺
The Sonepur Mela is Asia's largest animal fair, held annually on the holy confluence of the Ganges and Gandak rivers in Sonepur, Bihar! Beginning on the auspicious night of Kartik Poornima in November/December, this ancient fair traces back to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya who bought war elephants here. Historically famous as the 'Harihar Kshetra Mela', it features hundreds of majestic, decorated elephants, fine horses, cattle, and birds. Today, it is a grand carnival filled with colorful mela stalls, giant Ferris wheels, folk theater, circus, and unique rural wooden crafts.
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Test Your Knowledge! 🎯
Sonepur Mela is famous across Asia as which type of grand fair?
At the confluence of which two rivers is Sonepur Mela held?
Which famous ancient Indian Emperor bought war elephants from this fair?
Look at the beautifully decorated elephant in your workbook! Help the elephant find its way through the mela tents to the river ghat. Trace the labyrinth path with a pencil, draw decorative floral patterns on the elephant's trunk, and color it in royal red!
Check your workbook for details.