CM Fadnavis performs bhoomi puja for India’s first horse museum in Nandurbar

Nashik: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis performed ‘bhoomi puja’ on Friday for possibly India’s first horse museum at Sarangkheda village in Nandurbar district.

The town hosts a religious festival on Datta Jayanti and also a ‘Chetak’ horse fair.

The Ashva Sangharalaya will have all the information on horses from ancient times to the present era. Information of various horse species, breeds, legends, etc would be available to tourists.  

The chief minister also said that a horse development and research centre and a veterinary hospital would soon be established here. Horse sellers and buyers converge from all over the country to participate in the ‘Chetak’ festival.

The chief minister hoped that the festival would become famous on a national and an international level.

Tourism minister Jaikumar Raval said that the festival would help develop the district and also generate employment. MP Dr Heena Gavit, tourism secretary Nitin Gadre, revenue commissioner Mahesh Zagade and other dignitaries were present at the programme.

Sarangkheda has an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Dattathreya, which was rebuilt some years back. Lord Dattathreya’s idol has been brought from Mahur in Nanded district, sources said. As part of the horse fair, which is held for around two weeks, horse owners make their animals showcase their acrobatics and entertain the people. The main attraction is horse baazar or horse trading. The fair attracts thousands of people all over the Maharashtra and outside states in country for many purposes like horse riding and farming.