Vaishnavite pundit dressed in red and with heavy sandalwood and abir tilak on his forehead, at Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Elephant being washed by mahout near the banks of the River Ganges crowded with visitors to the Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Bihari man in white turban and dhoti, making clay oven in the ground to cook his meal at Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Launda dancer, a transsexual Bihari man dressed as a woman to dance at village weddings and fairs, Sonepur Cattle fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Wooden ferryboats with bamboo decking used to take people across the River Ganges between Patna and Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Bihari villager, a Vishnaivite devotee with tilak on his forehead indicating the Hindu god Vishnu, wearing orange clothing for visit to the Vishnu temple at Sonepur Cattle Fair, near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

White cows, decorated for sale at the annual Sonepur Cattle Fair near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Woman selling marigold mala (garlands), pictures of Hindu deities, agarbathi (joss sticks) and rolimoli temple threads from stall at Sonepur Cattle Fair, near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Fortune telling green parakeet being used to pick tarot cards at Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Fortune telling green parakeet picking tarot cards at Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Two men with Vaishnavite sandalwood tilaks on their foreheads, one man with long uncut hair, Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Man selling metal animal feed dishes at Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Woman buying bangles (churidar) from stall at Sonepur Cattle Fair, near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Elephant being washed by mahout near the banks of the River Ganges crowded with visitors to the Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

People crossing the River Ganges in the morning from Patna to the busy Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Women performing morning puja in the crowds gathered on the banks of the holy river Ganges at the Sonepur Cattle Fair, near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Young men, mahouts, washing tusked elephants in the holy River Ganges in preparation for Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Young men, mahouts, washing tusked elephants in the holy River Ganges in preparation for Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Bihari farmers and cattle owners resting on wooden cart, with their white cows decorated for sale at the annual Sonepur Cattle fair, near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Villagers waking in the early morning having camped overnight at the Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Young men, mahouts, washing tusked elephants in the holy River Ganges in preparation for Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Two white cows, decorated with cloth and bells, for sale at the annual Sonepur Cattle Fair near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Man in vest and dhoti pouring sugar syrup onto bowl of puffed rice to make prasad, Sonepur Cattle Fair, Bihar, India, Asia

Villagers making their way to the annual Sonepur Cattle Fair near Patna, Bihar, India, Asia

Snake charmer at rural cattle fair, Sonepur, Bihar, India, Asia

Village women surrounding a stall selling hair products at the Sonepur Cattle fair, Bihar, India, Asia