When it gets dark, facades of theatres light up and queues of excited men line up to see young girls dancing on stage.

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Sonepur Mela is a vibrant rural fair which gets underway on the auspicious Kartik Poornima (full moon day) of the month of November in the village of Sonepur, Bihar, on the confluence of rivers Ganges and Gandak. It lasts for around a month, attracts thousands of visitors daily, and it is one of the largest cattle and livestock markets in Asia. The Mela (“gathering of people”) is famous for its pilgrims, elephants and horse races. It illustrates the daily life, culture and beliefs of Indians and pictures the true heart of India. Apart from animals, innumerable goods are traded: clothing, cosmetics, food, electronics etc. Besides those commercial activities, a festive atmosphere prevails with Ferris wheels, rides, circuses and various performance shows which offer amusement to all types of visitors. When it gets dark, facades of theatres light up and queues of excited men line up to see young girls dancing on stage.

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Size: 7360px × 4912px
Location: Sonepur, Bihar, India
Photo credit: © François-Olivier Dommergues / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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