Sonepur Mela 2012 (28th Nov) after opening day?

Sonepur Mela 2012 will commence from 28th Nov this year, or so as I read from the internet...
Because I plan to be at Varanasi that day to see Dev Deepavali I wonder if I missed something special when arriving two days after Kartik Purmina.
Though to see that great cattle fair itself, I don't want to leave behind worships or religious activities which may only be held on the very first day.
Has one an idea of somekind of schedule of the mela? (don't blame me for showing German-like fondness for schedules )

Cheers, Bertram

It takes around a week in picking up! Hence, I believe, you won't miss anything there.

It seems, you are fond of Indian festivities!

May I suggest you to visit Patna to be an audience of Chhath Puja. It takes place six days after Diwali. You should be there from fifth day to seventh day (from 18th November to 20th November 2012).

You may have a look here and here to have an idea!

Then, you can travel to Varanasi from there, then come back to Sonepur!

Hi
If you want to see Elephants taking bath in river near Sonpur fair, come within 2-3 days of commencement of the fair.

Thanks
Alok

Hey you guys are awesome, many thanks for the quotes!

@Prakaant: You got the point, interesting idea! I will check this out.
@alokcklicks: Oh yes, the elephants

I would love to find more ideas

Quite a few IM'ers have been there at Sonepur Cattle Fair. Hfot2, Edwardesco are a few of them. Hope they see the thread of yours.

Once you cross 10 posts your PM (private message) will be enabled. You could then send a PM to them to get some more information about the fair.

I have also a plan to visit this Sonepur Mela. So far information is available with me, it is a better option to stay at a hotel in Hazipur town, which is just a few KM away. And rooms are not very expensive either.

Hi
It is better to stay at Sonpur/Hajipur, if you stay at Patna and proceed for Sonpur at 3 A.M via Mahatma Gandhi setu, you may not reach on time at Sonpur, because traffic jam on this bridge is very common.

Thanks
Alok

Hiiii broooooo come and visit ths year at sonpur mela

Will you please brief me (as well as all the other esteemed members of this forum), regarding what possibly may be the main attractions in this fair? Will it be inconvenient for someone, if he wishes to drive his car all along? Does getting a suitable parking place in the immediate vicinity of the fair become very difficult? Does the road become choked with traffic all along during the fair? Lastly, does the movements of VIP cars anyway really obstruct and inconvenience the non VIP cars and their drivers?

Do as Mark Shand did. Go there on an elephant

It would be a better idea to leave car(s) at Hazipur and then use local vehicle to commute. It would not be an easy job to commute in the crowd, I believe.

That's sounds like a great idea!
I didn't manage to find something very useful on the internet about guesthouses in Hajipur. Have you got any phone numbers or even better email adresses of nice a place there?
Unfortunately I'm not proficient in speaking hindi yet so an email might serve best.

Read Mark Shand - Travels on My Elehphant for a lovely description of Sonepur Mela

If you google "hotels in hajipur bihar", you may find few options.

Having said that, I wish to add, you should not expect anything big as Hajipur is comparatively a very small place.

At least Hajipur has a School of Hotel Management. I remember driving past it last time I was in the vicinity.