Horse trade fair kicks off on December 21
For 18 days starting towards the end of December, Sarangkheda in north Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district comes alive to the sounds of whinnying horses and stomping hooves. (Image source: BCCL)
Horse deal ranging from Rs 50k to Rs 2 crore
Breeders say horses can go from a minimum of Rs 50,000 to as high as Rs 2 crore. Every year, deals worth over Rs 15-Rs 20 crore are finalised at the fair. (Image source: agencies)
Over 2,500 horses of different breeds on show
Over 2,500 horses of the Marwari, Kathiawari, Nukra and Sindhi breeds are on show at the Chetak festival. (Image source: BCCL)
Fair dates back to the times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Legend has it that Maratha icon Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj bought war horses here. And in 2011, the Sarangkheda Horse Festival was renamed Chetak Festival, a nod to Rajput king Maharana Pratap’s storied horse.(Image source: BCCL)
Horses participate in different events
As the event’s main focus, the horses participate in fashion and dance shows and there’s also a beauty contest for them. The ‘Rewal Chal’ race requires horses to trot at under 40kmph. (image source: agencies)
Students can learn horse-riding at the fair
This year is special as there are two new elements: 10 schools from across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat where students can learn horse-riding have been invited to take part in an equestrian competition. (Image source: agencies)
Maiden edition of Chetak Equestrian Premier League
The maiden edition of the Chetak Equestrian Premier League has also been introduced at the fair this year in which six teams will compete in show-jumping, tent-pegging and dressage. (image source: agencies)
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