30/11/2023

1864, Calcutta IN – First Bengal Agricultural Exhibition

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1864 Calcutta

Name:First Bengal Agricultural Exhibition
Dates:24 Jan 1864 – ?
Days:
Venue:Agricultural Exhibition Centre, Belvedere Road, Alipore, Calcutta (Kolkata)
Theme:Competition and comparison
Exhibitors:
Awards:
Visitors:70,000
Legacy:Judged a success further such shows were run across Bengal, for instance at Burdwan and Dacca.

Exhibits were in three classes, livestock, machinery and implements and produce.

Europeans were permitted to exhibit their machinery. As with many shows the curious featured too, one woman brought a goat kid born with three legs rather than the standard four.

Cacutta street scene from the period

Judged a success further such shows were run across Bengal, for instance at Burdwan and Dacca. At Dacca Khajeh Abdool Gunny took first prize for a half-English, half-local cow, and a Mr Thomas took a first prize of
50 rupees for showing the best bull. At the Burdwan Show, the Maharajah of Burdwan won first prize for geraniums and second prize for roses.

Agricultural exhibit c1865

However shortly after the show opened, one of the cows was taken ill and died, several exhibitors took alarm and promptly removed their cattle. The Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Bengal led an enquiry into the issue, but by the time it got underway the illness in the area was in decline.


Forward to 1864, London UK – Working-class Industrial Exhibitions. North London
Back to 1864, Bayonne FR – Franco-Spanish Exposition
Back to Getting Noticed – Back to VOLUME II Index – Back to bobdenton.com home

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