Pushkar Fair

In the month of November, the vibrant land of Pushkar, Rajasthan comes alive with the glistening colors of joys, vivacious events and huge crowds to relish the famous Pushkar fair. A reflection of the ancient land of Rajasthan with its opulent traditional culture and the enthusiasm flowing through each event in the Pushkar Fair is truly awe-inspiring. The occasion is marked with a dip in the holy waters of Pushkar Lake and pay homage to the Hindu Deities. At the well-known Pushkar fair, you can get a glimpse of the age old traditional richness that is still alive on the bountiful land of Rajasthan.

Thousands of people go to the banks of the Pushkar Lake where the fair takes place. Men buy and sell their livestock, which includes camels, cows, sheep and goats. The women go to the stalls, full of bracelets, clothes, textiles and fabrics. A camel race starts off the festival, with music, songs and exhibitions to follow. Between these events, the most waited for is the test of how the camel is able to bring the items. In order to demonstrate, the men go up on the group of camels one after another. It is celebrated on the day Kartik Poornima (night of the full moon), the day, according to legend, which the Hindu god Brahma sprung up the lake, thus numerous people swim in the sacred water.

Special Attractions 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 clothes and finery for the five-day mela.

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 congregate 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.

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.

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 (and that's on the conservative side) are traded; making this world's largest camel fair.

Since Pushkar is a religious place alcohol and non-vegetarian food is prohibited.

How to Reach

Pushkar is 11 kilometres northwest of Ajmer, which is located on National Highway No, 132 kilometres west of Jaipur.. Ajmer is well connected with Jaipur and Delhi by road and rail. One can fly to Jaipur and then easily drive down to Pushkar, the site of the fair.