THE ANNUAL Kartik Mela at Dewa is not just about faith and festivity at the dargah (shrine). It is also one of the biggest animal fairs in the country.
Both—the crowds that throng the dargah and the number of animals put up for sale—have grown with each passing year. The tradition of the Dewa fair started way back in 1917 and continues. Somewhere down the line, the animal fair became part of it.
There are over 10,000 horses, mules, donkeys and ponies on display at the horse mela ground and at least double this number of cows, buffaloes, oxen, goats, sheep at the cattle ground.
Anyone approaching the Dewa shrine cannot miss the herd of animals on both sides of the road. “The district administration has organised the mela this year better than before. They have earmarked areas for different categories of animals within the fair. They have even made tracks to display the animal’s walk or run or for potential buyers to take a test ride of horses,” said Hukum Chand, a regular seller of animals at the annual fair.
The mela offers opportunity to buy and sell the best and the worst of animals.
Mohd Sarfaroz, who has been coming to the fair to sell horses for the last 30 years, belongs to Faizabad.
{{/usCountry}}Mohd Sarfaroz, who has been coming to the fair to sell horses for the last 30 years, belongs to Faizabad.
{{/usCountry}}“Till a few years back I had 21 horses but now I have 12. I have horses of all types but this time I am here not to sell but only to display them. I stay here for a week and buy horses if I like any and go back.”
He adds, “Only ‘Kadambaaz’ horses are valuable and actually speaking it is very difficult to quote prices for them as they improve and perform as much as the owner wants. ‘Kadambaaz’ horses are judged by their trot.”
Mukhtar Ahmad from Malihabad is a hard-core businessman. “I came here only to buy and sell horses. I quote my prices well and buy horses in the last days of the fair when people are ready to bargain. And then I tame the horses my way,” he says.