The Pushkar Cattle Fair, one of India’s oldest and most popular livestock gatherings, has once again captured national attention with a horse worth Rs 15 crore, a buffalo priced at Rs 23 crore, and a cow just 16 inches tall among its biggest attractions. The fair officially begins on October 30 and continues till November 5, but breeders, traders, and visitors have already started gathering in Rajasthan’s holy town of Pushkar.
The Rs 15 crore stallion everyone is talking about
At the center of the fair is Shahbaz, a two and a half year old Marwari stallion owned by Gary Gill from Chandigarh. Known for his prestigious lineage and multiple show wins, Shahbaz has drawn huge crowds. “His covering fee is Rs 2 lakh and the asking price is Rs 15 crore. I’ve already received offers up to Rs 9 crore,” said Gill.
A buffalo raised like royalty
Another star attraction is Anmol, a 1,500 kilogram buffalo valued at Rs 23 crore. Owner Palmindra Gill said the animal is raised like royalty and fed milk, desi ghee, and dry fruits every day. Rana, a buffalo from Ujjain valued at Rs 25 lakh, also stands out. The 600 kilogram animal consumes food worth about Rs 1,500 a day, including gram flour, eggs, oil, milk, ghee, and liver tonic.
Badal and the 16 inch tall cow
Among the returning legends is Badal, a veteran Marwari stallion and father of 285 colts, who has received offers up to Rs 11 crore but remains unsold. From Jaipur’s Bagru, Abhinav Tiwari has brought 15 cows of different breeds, including one that stands just 16 inches tall and is believed to be one of the smallest cows in the fair.
Tight security and safety measures
DSP Ramchandra Chaudhary said this year’s Pushkar Fair will have a larger police presence than before. “More than 2,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure that visitors face no inconvenience,” he said.
Health checks for every animal
The Rajasthan Animal Husbandry Department has stepped up monitoring to ensure the health and safety of the livestock. Joint Director Sunil Ghiya said dedicated checkpoints have been set up along routes to the fair. Every animal will be registered, examined by veterinary doctors, and tagged before entry. He added that veterinary teams will work round the clock at the fairgrounds to prevent any spread of disease.
Ghiya also said that animal records, especially for camels, cows, buffaloes, and horses, are being digitised to make livestock management more transparent and traceable.
A celebration of livestock tradition
This year, more than 4,300 animals have been registered for the event, including over 3,000 horses and 1,300 camels. The fairground is buzzing with trade, competitions, and cultural displays. Contests for best horse breed, best milk producer, and best dressed camel are drawing large crowds and adding to the festive spirit that has made Pushkar one of India’s most remarkable livestock fairs.
