Rajasthan is at its colorful best during its fairs and festivals.One of the most popular and colorful fairs of the Thar desert is the Pushkar fair.
Pushkar Camel Fair is a rare combination of religious fervour and cultural vibrancy in Rajasthan. It is the best time when you can interact with tribal folks and understand their culture. The fair is organized in the holy town of Pushkar located about 13 km from Ajmer, on the edge of a small and beautiful lake. This quiet little town of eastern Rajasthan boasts of having the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in entire India. Apart from that, the holy town of Pushkar is visited for its over 400 temples and 52 bathing ghats. October to March is the best time suggested to visit Pushkar town.
Pushkar fair, which begins on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi & goes on for five days till Kartik Purnima. The time of the fair coincides with the bright half of the moon during the months of October-November. The lake at Pushkar is one of the most sacred in India.
The picturesque lake of Pushkar is set in a valley just about 11 kilometres northwest of Ajmer, surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the fourth. Pushkar forms a fascinating location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair. Turbaned heads of men, and colorful veils and skirts of the women, bring alive the arid desertscape. The village women dress in their best colourful clothes and finery for the five-day mela.
In the afternoons, people crowd the stadium where camels, horses, and cows are paraded and raced. Camels are bought and sold during the Pushkar fair.On the roadside, stalls of all kinds are set up to sell a cornucopia of items. Almost every household is engaged in setting them up as the locals try to capitalize on the massive influx of people. It is impossible to drive around because of the large crowds. Either you hire a camel or you walk. In this aspect, it is truly a rural bazaar.
Like Varanasi, Pushkar is one of the sacred places for the Hindus, with 400 temples of which the most important is dedicated to Lord Brahma - the creator of the universe. Fifty-two ghats bind the lake. During the days of the mela, the otherwise tranquil lake is engulfed with religious fervor. Thousands of devotees collect to take a dip, sadhus descend from the Himalayas and people pray for salvation to the sound of verses from the Holy Scriptures, which fill the air.
Every Year, the full moon day of Kartik Purnima in October-November is celebrated as the 'Pushkar Fair', when thousands of devotees throng the Pushkar lake to take a holy dip. Pushkar Fair of India is the world's largest camel fair, which witnesses over 50,000 camels every year.
An interesting part of the Pushkar Fair is the mass trading of camels. Of course, cattle and other livestock are also traded, but it's camels that hold center stage at Pushkar. Camel-traders and villagers from miles away converge to Pushkar with their humped beasts. Over 25,000 camels (on the conservative side) are traded; making this world's largest camel fair
Races and competitions are organized. Camels lope across the sands sometimes throwing their riders on to the vast sands, amidst cheers and jeers from thousands of spectators. An interesting event is the camel beauty contest, where they are adorned and paraded. The camels preen before the crowds, enjoying every moment of the attention they get.
