The Harihar Kshetra festival at Sonepur, Bihar. A vast crowd attending the Sonepur fair; in the foreground there are tents erected for notables - 1826
By Sevak Ram

The pictures made by Indian artists for the British in India are called Company paintings. This one shows the Harihar Kshetra festival at Sonepur, near Patna. Vast crowds have always thronged to Sonepur Mela (fair) to offer obeisance in the Harihar Nath temple and to take part in the cattle fair, the largest fair held in Asia. It takes place in November and lasts for about 14 days. In the foreground of this picture are tents that have been erected for visiting dignitaries. The European couple shown approaching in one of the boats, seated beneath a large umbrella, are probably the Governor-General, Lord Amherst, and his wife.

Source : V&A, London