No horse trading at donkey market

Country's oldest donkey and mule bazaar brings Rocket, Kalashnikov, and Madhuri for sale

BADIN:

One of Pakistan's oldest and largest donkey markets opened its annual fare at Tando Ghulam Ali, drawing huge crowds and colourful animals from across the country.

High-breed donkeys and mules with unique names like Rocket, Missile, Kalashnikov, Modi, Kashmala, Sharmeela, Sheeri, Madhuri, Sheila, Heer Ranjha, and Yahoo became the centre of attention. This unique annual donkey market held on the 11th of Muharram in Badin attracted donkey lovers and buyers from all over Pakistan. The donkeys and mules brought to the market were beautifully decorated and adorned with colourful clothes, garlands, flowers, and other ornaments. To increase interest among visitors, donkey races were also organised. However, despite the large turnout and cultural significance of the event, the local municipal authorities failed to provide basic facilities. The lack of clean drinking water, washrooms, proper sanitation, and waiting areas caused inconvenience to many buyers.

According to elderly residents, this market began even before the creation of Pakistan. In those times, due to the lack of roads and transport, people from far-off villages would attend Muharram processions using donkeys and donkey-carts. Over time, this informal gathering grew into a full-fledged market.

The importance of this market grew even more during the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s when donkeys and mules were heavily smuggled to Afghanistan. These animals played a vital role not only in delivering ration supplies but also in transporting weapons through the rugged terrains.

A long-time buyer recalled how these donkeys and mules would cross mountainous paths to deliver supplies to their destinations.

In the modern era of pickups and loader bikes, this donkey market remains a vital part of Badin's cultural heritage.