The Aligarh Numaish – Thriving Since 1880
Every January, Aligarh comes alive with one of North India’s oldest exhibitions. What began as a horse fair in 1880 has evolved into a celebration of trade, food, culture and everyday life that continues to draw generations of visitors.
The Call of the Numaish
Come mid-January…
All roads start re-routing towards the Aligarh Exhibition Ground.
Horsie can’t ignore the call as well.
Today’s horses prefer their Uber.
The Origins and Evolution
A long, long time ago—
1880, to be precise.
The Maharaja of Aligarh organized a fair.
For horse trading.
It grew.
And grew in size.
Horses soon had cattle as company.
Hordes of humans selling their wares followed.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan participated.
So did countless named and unnamed poets across generations.
A song—
Aligarh Numaish Sadhbhavna Geet—
was composed in due course of time.
The Exhibition has it all.
Gates That Endure
The Exhibition boasts permanent gates.
They reassure the mortal.
Of the permanence of life.
When Does the Numaish Bloom?
The Exhibition starts blooming around mid-January, close to 26 January.
Like all flowers that dazzle—
The blossom lasts till mid-February.
Then it withers away.
Only to bloom again the following year.
Food for All
Nazeer Hotel and Jhande Hotel are permanent fixtures.
Sheermal.
Kebabs.
Lure in the hungry.
Tea is still served the conventional way.
The pooris are irresistible.
Even if one turns away—
The poori finds its way to the mouth.
Some keep tempting.
Some choose nan khatta.
The age-old Nazeer keeps competing against the newbies.
Is there a hint of worry in his posture?
The newbie even has a Bong here…
Disguised within a Nihari.
The crisps coexist with the healthy-food enthusiasts.
What Lies Inside?
You name it.
And you will have it.
The modern-day woman playing the balancing act between work and family.
That’s on exhibition.
Flying carpets lying in wait for flyers.
There’s many a knick-knack for the young lady.
The Numaish has caught up with indispensable modern technology.
The bookshops are there.
Lurking in corners.
Food for the Soul
The grand old Prince of Exhibition provides food for the soul.
In abundance.
An opportunity to meet friends.
And form new bonds.
The Exhibitionists
A mermaid is made to be the exhibitionist of the Exhibition.
Reel hunters make an exhibition of themselves.
Rides and Thrills
What does the activity hunter get out of all this?
All rides and games that fulfil an adrenaline junkie’s dreams are scattered throughout the ground.
The open gate lures the visitor.
Towards the well of…
Life.
And the pit of life bursts forth.
With its balancing act.
Between life and death.
Life Goes Round
(Embedded Video)
Humans queue up on their journey.
To become part of the merry-go-round.
Of life.
And death.
Looking Away
The balancing act is all over.
Most choose to walk past.
Pretending not to see.
They are here to have a good time.
The Numaish never fails to give them plenty of what they seek.
Yet it quietly keeps performing in the background.
Final Thoughts
The Aligarh Numaish thus keeps its promise.
Year after year.
Decade after decade.
The promise of coexistence.
Business.
And life.
A promise first made in 1880.
Burst Abdomen continues fair hunting.
From books.
To Aligarh.
And beyond.
