Hajipur: The world-famous Sonpur Mela is set to open on November 9, with a large model of the Ayodhya Ram Temple expected to be the star attraction as preparations intensify across the sprawling fairgrounds.
With barely a week left for the inauguration, work on administrative camps, pavilions and marketplaces has gained momentum following a pause caused by a recent cyclone. The tourism department’s main pavilion, the art and craft village and the rail heritage zone are all being completed at speed.
Officials said that camps for senior administrators — including the commissioner, inspector-general, district magistrate and superintendent of police — are being erected along the English Bazaar stretch. Facilities for the health, electricity and sports departments, along with the police line and other essential services, are also under construction.
Across the mela grounds, stalls are being set up from Hariharnath Gate to Drolia Sindoor Chowk, where textile traders from across India have already begun arranging their merchandise. Kashmiri traders will operate around a dozen stalls this year, while the traditional wooden, steel and craft markets have also started taking shape.
Entertainment zones are being readied with more than a dozen swings and rides, though waterlogging in parts of the theatre area has slowed progress. In the Chidiya Bazaar stretch, colourful swings and amusement setups are being installed despite persistent puddles.
A grand Ram Temple model, being constructed by Patna craftsman Imamuddin Ansari, is expected to draw the largest crowds. Ansari said the structure will be “extremely magnificent” and completed before the inauguration.
Additional stalls, including the Char Dham Darshan Centre, are being built on vacant plots near the Chidiya Bazaar Road and PNB–Ghoda Bazaar route. The traditional animal and goods markets, including the dog market, are also being fenced and upgraded.
