| Temples & Legends Of Bihar |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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SONEPUR |
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| The period of
the inception of the fair, like the temple, is also not known for certain. Previously the
fair was held at Hajipur (Ramchaura) and only oblations were offered to the deity at
Sonepur. Hajipur is just across the river. The names of the various muhallas in Hajipur in
the mela area have been reproduced in the mela area of Sonepur. The fair at Sonepur
appears to have come into prominence during the reign of Aurangazeb and the elephant trade
went up. Marshall, a European traveler in the 16th century, had mentioned that even the
traders of the far-flung Tatar desh used to come to the fair to deal in commerce. The fair
was the occasion of a large social and sporting gathering of the Europeans. The Sonepur
fair was much patronized by the European indigo planters of the Nineteenth Century. A
large camp was held in a magnificent grove and the visitors amused themselves with racing,
polo, gymkhanas, tennis and dances. They did much to improve the surroundings of the
temple and the road communications. |
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