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Asia's largest donkey fair near Jaipur

     Kanota (Rajasthan): Hundreds of traders and farmers are flocking the annual donkey fair, believed to be the Asia's largest, in Rajasthan. The fair at village Kanota, barely 25 km from Jaipur, is famous for its pedigree animals. Most of the deals are struck between traders, who sell the donkeys further to washermen, potters and construction workers to be used as load carriers. A young and healthy donkey may fetch upto 700 rupees. It is organised by the All-India Donkey Development Mela Committee with the support of Jaipur Municipal Corporation, the State Department of Animal Husbandry and a voluntary group "Help in Suffering". Besides the donkeys, recently camels and horses have also been added to the shopping list with many visitors even feeling that the horses are fast establishing a dominant position in the 500- year old fair's donkey tradition. Official figures confirm that the donkey arrivals at the fair had fallen by 50 percent at around 2000 compared to about 4000 in previous years. It's attribute largely to a continuing drought, which had taken its toll on both the villagers and their livestock. "I came here to trade in donkeys for the first time. I had thought that I will make a good business but I am disappointed. There are more horses coming to the fair so people are buying more of them. Less attention is being paid to donkeys," said Mohammad Rafiq, a trader in donkeys. The horse traders meanwhile said they were getting good prices. The highlight of the fair a rare white horse fetched 300,000 rupees, a huge price by India's rural standards. "The price of this horse is 300,000 rupees. We feed him milk and almonds. It is expensive as it is of a good breed," Baghchand, a trader, said. The animals, which are priced according to the quality of their teeth, undergo extensive inspection by the buyers.
-Oct 24, 2004