The arid landscape of Rajasthan has extremes of temperature. The sun rays are at its scorching best during the day, and the nights are cool. As the sun set’s down across the horizon in Pushkar, the amber sky has kites floating all over it. During winters this small town gets all sleepy with people returning early by the hearth.
The Pushkar Camel Fair is what adds color and vibrancy to this quiet township during the laidback days in winter. You can almost feel the pulse of Pushkar coming live in front of your eyes. The event is much more than a world famous fair.
It is rather a huge conglomeration of villagers who gather from the remote corners to enjoy the mirth and the celebrations. For them it is a pleasant break from the regular desert life and its hardships.
The fair has a religious aspect attached to it as well. You will find a group of Hindu pilgrims marching past the desert sands to take dip in the Pushkar Lake. They believe this would erode away all their sins, post which they pay homage to god at the Brahma temple. For any traveler this is a picturesque scene to remember and experience the fiesta!
As the name itself suggests, this is the biggest livestock fair in the country. The terrain is full of sellers and buyers bargaining for prized animals. They mostly belong to the northwestern part of the country. Musical performances and artistic exhibitions are other allied parts of the celebration.
Keeping in mind the religious significance the fair commences on the day of Kartik Purnima with a camel race. Surprisingly, the history of Pushkar Fair reveals that the Pushkar Lake was formed in the month of Kartik on a full moon day. One can attribute it to folklore, myth or fact! You can discover lot more about these on your India travel plan.
The celebration of Pushkar Fair is something that all travelers to Rajasthan should be a part of. There is a mystical touch to it owing to time of Kartik Purnima. With travelers of multiple nationalities gathering, the fair is nothing less than an epic spectacle. It is a gathering of more than three lakh people with approximately twenty thousand camels, horses and other cattle.
A slice of true India is what the fair is all about! The locale is semi-urban with people dressed in bright colors. The most important accessory for men and women during these days is the “enthusiasm” that they exhibit in their gestures.
Men and women are in garbed in their traditional attires, in dazzling shades of crimson, orange, yellow, green, magenta and other earthy shades. As you saunter around, you would find ash smeared and saffron robed “sadhus” chanting holy mantra in clusters. This apart, numerous sheep, cows, goat, horses and camels are arranged in embellished saddles for sale.
Visitors enjoy the traditional meals that are served in tiny food joints and eateries. The mouth watering cuisines to relish are Lapsi, Malpuas, Mawa, Mawa Kachori, Ghevar and Rasogullas. These are Jodhpur, Bikanerand Pushkar specialties.
Camel race and camel trade is a popular phenomenon. Apart from that, you can purchase goodies from the local marts and bazaars that are set up for these few days. They sell brassware, Rajasthani garments and cloth pieces, and camel saddles. Women can get attractive jewelry for themselves.
Since the fair in held in a small town like Pushkar, rural jewelry is on display. Rajasthani women in this part of the land love to ornament themselves with silver chunky jewelry in attractive designs. However, the urban women have an affinity for gold jewelry. You can choose from the traditional forms of rakhri, gajra, jod, bala, gokhru, bajubandh and timaniyan that are on exhibit. That is not all.
The bouquet has more to offer. There are Rajasthani style pottery, necklace made out of the glass beads sourced from Nagpur, Jodhpuri printed textiles and other goods sourced from Ajmer. The cattle traders and farmers are the potential customers for saddles and leather whips.
As the day extends to afternoon, you will find huge bunch of people making their way to the stadium where livestock parades and race shows are held. All these contribute to the fun and frolic atmosphere that is created.
For the foreign and outstation travelers accommodation at the Pushkar Fair is something that needs to be arranged prior to their arrival. However, some visitors choose to finalize their lodging booking on spot after they reach their destination.
Accommodation options here include the Limra Swiss Tents that are easily accessible. These are mostly cottage housings that are situated at a distance of 13kms from Pushkar. If you are taking the Jaipur route then they are at a distance of 150kms. A hired car or taxi is the most preferable mode of transport.
The Limra Swiss tents are comfortable and spacious. The huge cozy beds are perfect for unwinding and relaxing after a day’s journey. Table, bed stand, cupboard, shelves and other furniture’s have elegant designs and detailing.
The private sitting space allows visitors to loosen themselves and cherish an exclusive time with their partners or fellow travelers. In addition to that, there are the private “sit-outs”, verandahs, attached baths and other new age amenities.
Along with lodging facilities, these tents also offer opulent dining scopes. Guests can choose from a wide variety of delectable Indian cuisine delights prepared by master chefs. The recreational amenities that are provided include optional village guided tours and other entertainment programs.
Other facilities provided by the tents are travel desk, money exchange, STD/ISD call facilities, complementary coffee/tea in the morning, Ayurvedic treatment and messages on request and many more.
It’s during the winter that the Pushkar Camel Fair takes place, when the weather is far more soothing than the blazing heat of the summer months. Visitors can actually stroll for long hours without feeling fatigued or tired. The rolling sand dunes, the vibrant ambiance and the festive colors embrace one and all.
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Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd. (IHPL) is a 2 time National Tourism Award winning destination management company based in Delhi. This travel blog is an initiative to inform the visitors about all aspects of India that include her history, heritage, culture and tourist attractions and destinations.
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