Badin hosts Pakistan's largest donkey festival

Published October 28, 2015
An image of "Toofan" who was the winner of the donkey festival and was also the major attraction of the market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
An image of "Toofan" who was the winner of the donkey festival and was also the major attraction of the market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey decorated with colourful ornaments waiting to be bought. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey decorated with colourful ornaments waiting to be bought. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey and its owner posing at the annual donkey market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey and its owner posing at the annual donkey market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey waiting to be sold. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey waiting to be sold. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey and its handlers at the annual donkey market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey and its handlers at the annual donkey market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey tied up at the annual donkey festival in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey tied up at the annual donkey festival in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey poses at the festival. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey poses at the festival. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Buyers take a look at the donkeys.— Photo by Hanif Samoon
Buyers take a look at the donkeys.— Photo by Hanif Samoon
A well decorated donkey and its owner pose for the camera. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A well decorated donkey and its owner pose for the camera. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A group of donkeys at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A group of donkeys at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Two donkeys get ready for their performance.  — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Two donkeys get ready for their performance. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey decorated with mehendi. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey decorated with mehendi. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey posing next to the accessories stall at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A donkey posing next to the accessories stall at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Stall owners waiting to sell ornaments and donkey accessories at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Stall owners waiting to sell ornaments and donkey accessories at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A view of the group of donkeys presented at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
A view of the group of donkeys presented at the annual donkey market in Badin. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
People have a look at the donkeys before deciding to buy them. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
People have a look at the donkeys before deciding to buy them. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Colourful accessories on display at stalls at the annual donkey market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon
Colourful accessories on display at stalls at the annual donkey market. — Photo by Hanif Samoon

For many decades Tando Ghulam Ali, a small town in the Badin District, has hosted one of the largest donkey markets of the country where both buyers and sellers of this animal throng in thousands annually on the 10th Muharram.

The festival continued for three days, in which three thousand donkeys of different breed from across the country were present.

Since decades, the donkey market has been organised on a small scale in Badin after official patronage was granted in 2004, when the then district government of Badin authorised the Taluka Council Matli to allocate the land and imposition of taxes to organise the market.

This event is now overlooked by the residents who receive the taxes both from buyers and sellers of the animals.

The donkey market, which is organised like a festival, holds donkey races and other sports activities besides setting up food and ornamental items stalls.

The prices of the donkeys ranged from Rs 25,000 to Rs 500,000 this year with a donkey named "Toofan" being the major attraction.

The owner of the donkey refused a buyer who was offering Rs 1 million and insisted to sell the animal at Rs 1.2 million.

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