| Temples & Legends Of Bihar |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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SONEPUR |
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| Sonepur is
considered a very holy place and the ceremonial bathing in the Ganga in the month of
Kartik is held by the orthodox Hindus to be a great act of virtue. 13ut another great
attraction is the fair which is held during the whole period of Ganga man (bath). It lasts
for about a month, but is at its height for two days before and two days after the bathing
in the Ganga on the day of the full moon (Kartik Purnamasi). Immense crowds assemble. The
roads leading to Sonepur from all the sides are literally packed with people for a few
days. The railway authorities run many special trains and yet there is always a
complaint and the trains are jam packed. A large number of cattle, horses and elephants
are offered for sale. It is said that the Sonepur cattle fair is the second largest cattle
fair in the world. Previously hundreds of horses, camels, sheep and elephants used to be
brought and most of them were sold out. All the rich people of Northern India used to get
their elephants from this market. The turn-over of consumers'goods in this fair is also
enormous. Previously hundreds of prostitutes and dancing girls used to spend a month in
tents spreading vice and disease. By an Act this vice has been stopped. |
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