The Sonepur Fair, once Asia’s largest animal fair famed for elephant and horse trading, has evolved significantly due to bans on elephant trade and changing agricultural practices. Now primarily known for horse trading, the fair saw around 8,000 horses sold this year, with prized animals like the Marwari horse Sultan and Sindhi horse Raja fetching high prices. Alongside horses, goats and various dog breeds, including the banned American Bully, are also traded. The fair’s atmosphere has shifted, with theatre shows now drawing larger crowds than the animal markets.

A standout attraction is Birbal Singh’s prized Jafarabadi buffalo, Pradhan Babu, valued at over ₹1 crore and generating nearly ₹21 lakh annually from semen sales. The buffalo’s calm demeanor and high milk production make it a local celebrity. Despite the fair’s diminished traditional charm, it remains a vital marketplace for livestock, reflecting broader changes in rural livelihoods and animal trade in the region.