Pushkar Fair
Pushkar, an important pilgrim centre in Rajasthan, is famous for world's
largest camel fair, The Pushkar fair. This fair is one of the main
cultural activities of Pushkar. It is held in the month of November
every year. Pushkar fair is well-known for its camel trading and other
religious activities. Villagers come from different parts of the state
and bring their cattle with them. The festival is full of folk dance,
and music. Colourful shops make this fair a very charming cultural
event. Camel races are also held during this vibrant festival.
This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for
twelve days annually during October- November. This cultural and trade
cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani
men and women in their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed
and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep,
goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the
largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people
from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of
India and abroad.
Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware,
clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. Necklaces
of glass beads from Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur
and Ajmer are all on sale here. Farmers, cattle traders and breeders
buy and sell their animals, leather whips, saddles etc. There are
facilities for camel rides also.
This livestock fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration.
Pushkar is among the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the
Hindu scriptures. It has a large number of temples including one of
the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in India. Hundreds of
thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy Pushkar lake on
the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika month)
and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir).
It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator, wished to perform a
'yagna' following his long years of penance. During his sojourn in
search of a place for yagna, Brahma dropped a lotus from heaven which
created the lake Pushkar. It was on the Karthika night that a drop
of nectar fell in this lake, thereby making it sacred. Pilgrims flock
from all over India to be in Pushkar at this auspicious time. They
also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present
at Pushkar Lake during the occasion.
Camel trading is the main activity of Pushkar Fair. So many interesting
events are held during this fair. Camel races and other events like
the Puppet show, cattle show and Magic show are also the part of this
event. Pushkar is also the sacred place for Hindus. Amidst chanting
of Vedic mantras people take bath in the Pushkar Lake. Shopping is
one of the main activities during this festival. Decorative items
for Cattles, like saddles, saddle-straps and beads are sold. One can
buy jewelry, garments, silver ornaments, bead necklaces etc.
The trading which involves a great deal of bargaining between the
cattle traders and the buyers add to the spirit of the fair. Apart
from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number
of cultural and sporting events. The variety of folk dances, dramas
and songs lend colour and melody to the atmosphere that is already
charged with excitement of the camel races and the cattle fair. The
sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels,
stalls and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation
has taken adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the
fair site and to accommodate the fairgoers.
Pushkar Fair is believed to be the largest cattle trade fair in the
world and coincides with a Hindu religious celebration.
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