Hindus visit Pushkar year-round to take a dip in the redemptory waters of the lake, but there is one particular day when bathing here is believed to relieve devotees of all their sins, and ultimately free them from the bonds of samsara: the full moon ( purnima ) of the Kartika month (usually Nov). For five days leading up to and including the full moon, Pushkar hosts thousands of celebrating devotees, following prescribed rituals on the lakeside and in the Brahma Mandir.

To add to the flurry of color and activity, a large camel fair is held at around the same time in the sand dunes west of the town, when hordes of herders from all over Rajasthan gather to parade, race and trade their livestock. The transformation of Pushkar from a peaceful desert town is complete and overwhelming - the streets are packed with swarms of pilgrims, hawkers and thousands of tourists; hotels and restaurants are chock-a-block, and prices soar.

Families from all over Rajasthan struggle through the crowded lanes laden with children, blankets, food and makeshift tents, setting up camp in the dunes where night fires, delicious open-air cooking smells and traditional folk music drifting through the starlit night create an unforgettable experience.

Once trading is under way, camels and cattle are meticulously groomed, lined up and auctioned, while women dressed in mirrored skirts and vivid shawls lay out embroidered cloth, jewelry, pots and ornaments beside the herds, stopping trade occasionally to gather dung to fuel the evening fires.

 

Cattle, poultry, sheep and goats are entered for competitions, and prizes given for the best displays of fruit and vegetables. Away from the main activity, the dusty ground is stirred up by vigorous camel races , noisily urged on by gamblers. Things become even more animated as acrobats balance precariously on tightropes and cartwheel between the crowds.

Aside from its overwhelming size, the most striking feature of the Pushkar camel fair from a foreign visitor's point of view is that it is attended by equal numbers of men and women. With the harvest safely in the bag and the surplus livestock sold, the villagers, for this brief week or so, have a little money to spend enjoying themselves, which creates a lighthearted atmosphere that's generally absent from most other Rajasthani livestock fairs. As a result, photo opportunities are endless. Proudly dressed in their most colorful clothes and jewelry, both the men folk and their wives and daughters tend to be happy to pose for the camera, being as interested in you as you are in them. more...

Pushkar | Travel info | Restaurants | Karttika Purnima
and Pushkar Camel Fair | Lake and Ghats |
Brhama, Salvitri and Gayitri | The temples

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