Tourism minister Javed Iqbal Ansari lights the traditional lamp during the inaugural event at Sonepur fair on Wednesday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Sonepur Mela, arguably Asia’s largest cattle fair, was inaugurated on Wednesday with much fervour amid changing characteristics it is hardly known for.

What seems to have outnumbered the cattle are the numerous kiosks of agricultural equipment, automobiles and fast-moving consumer goods.

Altogether, 24 state government departments, including agriculture, health, education and industries among others, have booked kiosks and have started putting up the structures as well. Apart from the government departments, stalls are also being set for readymade garments, hosiery and woollen items, handicrafts, cutlery, electrical and electronics, automobiles and leather goods and equipment among others.

Modernisation has also offered the visitors adventure sports like parasailing, hot air balloon, water-skiing, water-canning and all-terrain vehicle ride at the fair from November 10 and 16.

The fair was formally inaugurated on Wednesday by tourism minister Javed Iqbal Ansari. “The preparation for the fair is going on for past one month and we have taken all possible initiatives to make it a world-class event. We are also working on plans for overall development of Harihar Kshetra so that people come here throughout the year,” said Ansari.

While the tourism minister boasted the preparations but local villagers at Sonepur seem concerned about the dwindling number of animals. “This fair is most likely to be referred as cattle fair just for namesake within a few years. Traders from outside the state have stopped coming here. Animal traders from places like Punjab, Haryana, Bengal and Odisha used to come with elephants, camel, cows and bull among others. But they have stopped coming here from around a decade now because there is less sale and the government is also not doing much to make this fair more animal-centric,” said Anil Kumar Singh, retired government employee and a resident of Sonepur.

After inauguration, over 5 lakh devotees are expected to take the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Gandak at Sonepur, around 35km north of Patna, to mark Kartik Purnima from the early morning hours on Thursday.

Visitors can also expect an array of cultural and adventure sports activities over the month-long fair. Around 50 artistes from different parts of the state have been roped in to perform during the daily cultural programmes by the art, culture and youth affairs department.

Ganga/Gandak Aarti would also be done at the riverbank on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at Pul Ghat.

Saran district magistrate Kundan Kumar assured sufficient security arrangement for the fair. “We have taken all possible measures to avoid any untoward incident. Apart from an adequate number of hand-held and door-frame metal detectors, bomb disposal and anti-sabotage squad are also deployed here. Sufficient number of changing rooms and drinking water facilities have been provided at the ghats for Kartik Purnima Snan,” said Kundan.

No three- and four-wheelers are allowed to ply on the New Hajipur-Chhapra bridge on the Gandak till conclusion of the holy bath on Thursday. All vehicles would be prohibited on the old Gandak bridge till 2pm on Thursday and only pedestrians from Hajipur to Sonepur would be allowed to use this bridge.