Cops stop two-day donkey fair in Kaushambi for flouting Covid norms

Prayagraj: Lack of permission and violation of Covid-19 protocol on Sunday evening forced Kaushambi police to stop the annual ‘Gardhabh Mela’ (donkey fair) near the Kada Dham area. The two-day donkey fair, organised near the Sheetla Dham, Kada area, began on Sunday morning where around 1,000 donkeys of different breeds and pedigrees were being brought from different parts of the country for sale and purchase.
However, when Kaushmabi police learnt that the organisers had not sought permission to hold the donkey fair and that Covid-19 protocols were being openly violated in the fair, the police officials rushed to the spot and stopped the fair.
Additional SP, Kaushambi, Samar Bahadur told TOI that cops have stopped the annual donkey fair organised near Sheetla Dham on Sunday evening. He added that the majority of traders who brought donkeys, mule and horses had already left the spot.
ASP claimed that local traders have already left the spot and those who came from other states would be vacating the spot by Sunday night. ASP said that organisers had not sought any permission to hold the annual fair.
However, earlier in the day, the unique feature of the two-day donkey fair was that the donkeys were decorated with colours and fed food before they were presented for sale by the owners. The donkeys were being sold at higher prices ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 during the fair.
Ashok, a resident, said, "The donkeys are fed delicacies and decorated with colours and signs before being displayed for sale."
He added, "Not only donkeys but mules and horses are also sold by traders who arrive at the Kada area in Sirathu tehsil of Kaushambi district every year from all over the country for sale and purchase of donkeys at the fair. This year, traders in large numbers from Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, MP and Rajasthan had arrived for sale and purchase of donkeys, mules and horses.
Raj Kumar, a trader from Rajasthan said, "We used to apply special signs on donkeys so that they should not be mixed with the other donkeys." He added that a special breed of a donkey called 'Tipu' was in high demand and that many people at the fair were ready to shell out extra bucks for them. People of two communities namely the Pandas and washermen community organise the annual donkey fair jointly near the Dham in the Chaitra month.
Both traders and visitors believe that devotees reveal their ‘mannat’ (wish) to the animals and arrive here to feed them with milk, grams, green grass and vegetables if their wish is fulfilled. Trader Shyamlal said, “Donkeys are also named after film stars and prominent personalities to catch the fancy of buyers. This is the spot where donkeys gain significance.”