← All showsSonepur Mela 2026
22 Nov 2026
Harihar Kshetra fairground, Sonepur, Bihar
Sonepur Mela is a month-long Kartik Purnima fair in Bihar, long known for its livestock trade, including a horse market. The 2026 edition opens on 22 November.
- One of Asia's largest livestock fairs
- Traditional horse market
- Organiser
- Saran District Administration, Government of Bihar
- Venue
- Harihar Kshetra fairground, Sonepur, Bihar
Venue guide
Sonepur Mela Ground, Harihar Kshetra
Sonepur, Bihar
The Sonepur Mela is held on the large fairground at Sonepur in Saran district, at the meeting point of the Gandak and Ganga rivers, just across the Ganga from Patna. One of Asia's oldest livestock fairs, it begins on Kartik Purnima and runs for about a month, with a horse market alongside cattle trading, the Harihar Nath temple, cultural shows, stalls and fair rides.
- Large open fairground with a horse and livestock market
- Harihar Nath temple and ghats at the river confluence
- Hundreds of stalls selling clothes, handicrafts, winter wear and food
- Amusement rides and cultural stage shows
- Crowd management and police presence during the fair
Good to know: Visit in the morning on a weekday to see the horse market before the crowds; the opening days around Kartik Purnima and weekends are the busiest.
Tips for visitors
- ●Crowds are very heavy; keep phones and wallets secure and agree a meeting point if you are in a group.
- ●Rooms near the fair are few; most visitors stay in Patna or Hajipur and come for the day.
- ●Carry a warm layer: late November and December evenings by the river get cold and misty.
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Source: Patna Press