To be
part of a vibrant Rajasthan, you need to participate in its fairs and
festivals. Fortunately, there are several of them through the year, one of
which is the most famous Pushkar Camel Fair.
It begins on Kartik Shukla Ekadashiand extends to five days till KartikPurnima
in October-November. This fair is considered to be the largest traditional fair
in India. It is well worth a visit, so why not try to make it to this year’s Pushkar
Fair?
Location:
The town of Pushkar in Rajasthan is situated
about 14 km from Ajmer, and is considered to be one of the top five pilgrim
towns for the Hindus. There are 400 temples here, but the most important is the
one dedicated to Lord Brahma.
About
11 km northwest of Ajmer is Lake Pushkar, a serene lake bounded by hills on
three sides and sand dunes on the fourth. It is a fascinating spot for the
annual Pushkar Cattle Fair where turbaned men bring their camels for sale. The
lake is bounded by 52 ghats and during the mela, this lake is the scene of much
religious fervour with many people taking a dip in its waters.
Pushkar Fair: There’s a lot of
activity in the fairgrounds as camel owners bring in their camels and parade
them here. Apart from camels, horses and cows are also paraded and raced here.
This fair is the grounds for buying and selling camels. It is said that during
this five-day Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan
festival, at least 25,000 camels are traded here, making this the world’s
largest camel fair.
The
paraded animals are decked up in fine jewellery including silver bells and
anklets. During the festival, competitions are held where camels run across the
sands; beauty contests for camels are held where they preen before the crowds
and lap up all the attention. Other competitions held here include the Longest
Moustache, Bridal Competition, MatkaPhod and Cricket Matches. On either side of
the road are various stalls selling household items and other products. Since
it is so crowded on these days, it is advisable to walk or hire a camel. People
buy jewellery, patchwork garments, food and other useful items for the house.
Considering
this fair is widely visited, it means that boarding and lodging facilities will
have to be made well in advance if you want to make a visit here. To have an
enjoyable and successful visit at the Pushkar Fair Festival 2019,
you need to have a local person who is adequately experienced in this field to
give you the right kind of arrangements.
.jpg)
.jpg)