Your guide to the fair

Gaj Graha Chowk has come alive with fancy lights adorning the symbolic black statue of Gaj Graha and Lord Vishnu. Sadhus belonging to mutts (monasteries) from across Bihar, neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand have reached Kali Ghat at the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak in Sonepur. Sixteen tuskers and hundreds of horses are holding ground at in the bazaars (markets) near Shaheed Maheshwar Chowk. Giant wheels stand tall, while a stage at the adjacent Shobha Samrat theatre is spicing up evenings. Piyush Kumar Tripathi tells you all you need to know about the month-long Sonepur Mela — Asia’s largest cattle fair — that came alive with lakhs taking a holy dip during Kartik Purnima on Wednesday.