Pushkar Fair


In the month of Kartik each year, a staggering number of camels travel their way across the golden sands of Rajasthan to collect at Pushkar for the week-long fair devoted to them. Coming in from all directions, their masters astride them, they flick the sand at every step with casual ease. The horses that march to this site find the sand-trot a touch exercise. Numerous cows and sheep also come to the animal fair. Completing the scene thousands of men, women and children, come with their beasts, suddenly inhabiting the barren plain with the camel providing the backdrop.


The contrast to the dull desert landscape is the riot of colours - the large gaudy turbans of the native males arriving here to trade their animals or set up the stalls to cater to the booming captive market, and the loud hues of the pleated ghagaras (ankle-length skirts) of the women bangled by the armful, bejewelled from head to toe- adding charm and zest to the massive affair.


At Mela time, Pushkar is Rajasthan under one roof, a complete exhibition of its culture.

Pushkar, an important religious place for Hindus, is located only 11 kms from Ajmer in Rajasthan . This little town is hugely known for the "Pushkar Fair' (where the mass trading of camels takes place), "the Lord Brahma Temple", a "picturesque lake' and "camel fair". Pushkar houses as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats, which includes the Brahma temple, the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the country. Pushkar is amongst the important pilgrimages in the country visited by devotees from all over the country.

According to the legend, the Pushkar lake was formed where Lord Brahma - the lord of creation - dropped a lotus on the day of the full moon. Every November, the famous Pushkar Fair is held for 7 days which begins on Noami ( the ninth day of the month of Kartik, Oct- Nov, of the Hindu calendar) and finishes on Kartik Poornima (Full Moon). The Fair is marked by a gathering of thousands of camels, cattle and horses for trade, with added attractions of games, races, local folk dances, song and entertainment.

Pushkar is internationally known for its colourful cattle fair when thousands of devotees from all faiths assemble to take a dip in the holy lake. Dance, music, gaily-attired folks and various cultural events add to the fun and chrisma of the occasion. The phenomenal camel races are the most interesting part of the fair augmented by cattle auction and colourful shops exhibiting beautiful handicrafts.