Sonepur Fair Returns: Month-Long Celebration of Tradition from Tomorrow

Patna: The world-renowned Harihar Kshetra Sonepur Fair will take place from November 13 to December 14, marking a month-long celebration of culture and tradition. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha will officially inaugurate the event on Wednesday, while Science and Technology Minister Sumit Kumar Singh will preside over the ceremony. Several dignitaries, including Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, MPs, and MLAs, are expected to attend.

Tourism Minister Nitish Mishra highlighted the preparations made by the Tourism Department to enhance the fair’s grandeur. A cultural pandal and an Art and Craft Village have been set up, along with a temporary tourist information center staffed with guides. To kick off the festivities, Bollywood playback singers Aishwarya Nigam and Deepali Sahay will perform at the inauguration, followed by a cultural presentation by renowned folk singer Maithili Thakur on November 16. Throughout the month, daily cultural programs will be organized by the Tourism Department, the Art-Culture and Youth Department, and the district administration.

Tourism Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh announced the construction of six luxury Swiss cottages, equipped with modern facilities, in the Tourism Village. A special tour package is also available, offering transport from Patna to Sonepur. The cottages, priced at Rs 3000 per day for domestic tourists and Rs 5000 per day for foreign visitors, offer hotel-like amenities, including double beds and attached bathrooms.

A family tour package, priced at Rs 6000 for two adults and two children, includes transport via an AC Etios vehicle, a tourist guide, meals, and an overnight stay in the Tourism Village. The package departs from Patna at noon, offering visits to the Hariharnath temple and cultural programs on the first day, followed by fair visits on the second day, with a return trip to Patna by 3:30 pm.

For shorter visits, a one-day special tour package is also available, ranging from Rs 900 to Rs 1300 per person, depending on the vehicle choice. This package includes transport, a guide, snacks, and water, with a focus on visits to the Harihar Kshetra fair and the Hariharnath temple.

For more details, tourists can visit the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation website at www.bstdc.bihar.gov.in.