From the archive record
Poignant moment for elephant owner and animal, as he plays with her just before finalizing the sale of his female baby elephant. She refused to leave his side and go with the new owner - chasing him and trumpeting loudly as he rode on his bike, leaving her behind. The Sonepur Cattle Fair or Malegaon Mela is held on Kartik Poornima (the full moon day) in the month of November in Sonepur, Bihar, on the confluence of river Ganges and Gandak. It is also known as Harihar Kshetra Mela and it attracts visitors from all over Asia. Till date, it is the biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from fifteen days to one month. It has its origins during ancient times. This is when Chandragupta Maurya used to buy elephants and horses across the river Ganges. The Sonepur Cattle Fair once used to attr