When the Desert is Soaked in colour – The Legendary Pushkar Camel Fair

Each year the dusty town of Pushkar comes alive in the Hindu month of Kartik, and how! Tourists and locals flock to this small town for a variety of reasons. While some are here to wash away their sins with a dip in the Holy Pushkar Lake, others are here to participate in the camel and livestock fair, and then there are those who are simply here to be a part of the celebrations and witness the various quirky competitions.

Perched on the edge of the desert, the small town of Pushkar is situated 11 kms from the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan and stands separated by the “Snake Mountain” or “Naag Pahaar” as locals call it. It stands well-connected by rail, air and road. During the five days of the fair, the town welcomes over 50,000 camels, and more than 2,00,000 tourists. The camels are brought in to be traded off or compete on the basis of their best features, beauty, speed and even tricks.

The five days between Kartik Ekadashi and Kartik Poornima is when the Pushkar Fair is held, which usually fall during the months of October – December, and are considered to be quite auspicious. Legend has it that on the day of the Kartik Poornima, a full moon night, the Hindu God Brahma created the Holy Pushkar Lake by dropping a lotus flower after the completion of a ‘Yagya’ or prayer ceremony. This also happens to be the reason why the town features the only Brahma Temple in the world and that the word Pushkar translates to lotus.

The Brahma Temple is characterized by a red spire and a Hans (goose) overlooking the entrance; the goose being the official carrier of the Hindu God. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Brahma, considered to be the Creator of the Universe in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. The temple of his wife, Goddess Savitri is perched on a hill top, which happens to be an hour’s trek away. The Temple of Savitri offers a breath-taking view of the Pushkar Lake as well as the surrounding dunes. The Varah Temple, also in Pushkar, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu, considered to be the preserver in the Holy Trinity of Hindu Gods.

Attractions at the Pushkar Fair include a good mix of competitions that range from sporty to entertaining and even downright amusing. Flocking the fairgrounds, along with an assortment of tourists, are decorated camels and livestock. 

The main competitions include a tug of war, camel race, cricket or kabbaddi between locals and random foreign tourists, puppet show, best Indian bride, longest moustache and turban tying.

The Pushkar Fair is definitely an event of a lifetime, and should be part of your holiday in India if you choose to travel during the last quarter of the year!


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Call @ +91 8287455143 for Pushkar fair tour.