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With its fortune-telling flair, donkey Pannalal is ‘big star’ at Tajbagh fair in Nagpur

Pannalal, a 'fortune-telling' donkey owned by Khalel Ahmed Pathan... Read More
NAGPUR: Ever heard of a donkey with a side hustle? Meet Pannalal, a ‘fortune-telling’ donkey, who is turning heads with its predictions at a fair in the city, so much so that he was even felicitated.

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Pannalal is the star attraction at the ongoing Tajbagh fair, leaving audiences in awe with his uncanny ability to uncover hidden truths.

Owned by Khalel Ahmed Pathan, Pannalal isn’t your average donkey. He’s the star of the show, gathering crowds who can’t get enough of his quirky charm. For just ₹20, spectators get a ticket to watch the spectacle, where Pannalal takes centre stage.

During the show, people gather around while Khalil asks Pannalal hilariously odd questions like: “Who’s got a secret lover here? Who’s the genius in the room? Who’s the mama’s boy?” And believe it or not, Pannalal trots over and picks his answer. “He has an accuracy of 90%,” claims Khalil. “It’s all in the training,” he adds with a grin. But what’s the secret behind this training? “That’s a family trade secret,” he chuckles, while taking offense if anyone dares call Pannalal just a ‘donkey.’

Pannalal’s care routine sounds almost royal. His diet? Chana, ghaas, and even lentils — because only the best will do for this four-legged celebrity. Khalil’s family, originally from Amravati, tours the country with their show, delighting audiences from Telangana to their next stop in Butibori for Ganeshotsav.

At 18 years old, Pannalal is nearing retirement age — donkeys typically live around 25 years. But Khalil’s already planning for the next generation. “We’ll train another one soon,” he says.
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Pannalal’s antics are being well received in Nagpur, so much so that a body named Akhil Bhartiya Sena felicitated him. “We were really impressed by his skills. I had seen Pannalal a decade ago doing the same show. I was really awestruck by his improvement in the years gone by. Hence, we decided to fete him,” said Sheikh Aslam, district president of Akhil Bhartiya Sena.

So, next time someone calls you a ‘donkey,’ you might just take it as a compliment.


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Sudhanshu Bisen

Sudhanshu Bisen, 24, is a correspondent-cum-copy editor with The ... Read More

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