In the religious city of Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh, lakhs of devotees have come to worship Chitrakoot during the five-day Deepdan Amavasya Fair. In such a situation, another fair has been organized which has become a center of attraction for the people. We are talking about the historical donkey fair which has been organized since the time of Aurangzeb. This fair is organized on the banks of Mandakani river. In which a large number of traders from many states reach this donkey fair and buy and sell.

This time around fifteen thousand donkeys from different states have come to the Donkey Fair and the price of these donkeys of different heights ranges from Rs 5 thousand to Rs 3 lakh. Special in this are the names of donkeys which are named after film stars and famous people like – Lawrence Vishnoi, Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol, Shahrukh Khan, Salman, Alia Bhatt and there are others with whom people are especially attracted.

eight thousand donkeys were sold

Donkey traders examined and purchased these animals. About eight thousand donkeys were sold in this fair during three days. Donkeys were bid according to their breed and height. The rates were also fixed according to their names.

Aurangzeb started the fair

This fair has been organized since the time of Aurangzeb. In this, traders from different states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh come to sell and buy donkeys. Aurangzeb included donkeys and mules in his army’s fleet from this fair of Chitrakoot. Therefore this fair has historical importance. Donkeys worth up to Rs 1 lakh are sold in this fair.

There is a shortage of facilities

This tradition, which has been going on since the Mughal period, is now almost on the verge of extinction due to lack of facilities. In this fair, which is held amidst terrible filth on the banks of the river, neither drinking water nor shade is provided to the traders. In the name of security, even home guards are not deployed in the two-day donkey fair. The contractors collect money from the traders whether their animals are sold or not. In such a situation, this historical donkey fair is losing its existence. Gradually the arrival of traders is decreasing.