Pushkar fair, a fiesta of color and camel

The moment we utter the word fair, we can imagine its pastoral picture, the aroma of clay mingling with a bucolic innocent crowd. Pushkar fair- the unique festival of Rajasthan gifts the travelers a calm opportunity to explore its naïve enthusiasm wrapped in color, camel and cattle. In the month of Kartik (October-November) Pushkar is transformed into a vibrant fair-ground. The Pushkar and the cattle fair are made colorful by the attires of traditional Rajasthani men and women. The occasion witnesses an exiting visit to more than a millions of tourist every year. The fair starts from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi and goes on for 12 days, till Kartik Poornima.

Pushkar Fair, the largest cattle fair in India is especially meant for entertainment and merry-making. Pushkar camel fair is an imposing happening incident in which around 2 lakh people made their participation. It is primarily a seven-day festival devoted entirely to animals and first five days for selling and purchasing of cattle. The camel and the horse races are the prime attraction of the festivals that cheer the spectators.

Trained and festooned camels are busy competing with each other. Over 50000 camels are sold and raced during this festival. Thousands of people take part in this festival by involving them in the activities of buying and selling camels, cows, sheep, goat and other animals too. The spiritual activities dominate the later half of the Puskar festival that includes dips in the holy "Sarovar" lake. Devotees come to take bathe in the holy waters of Puskar's lake in order to absolve their sins. Also, the devotees believe that a bath on the full moon day endow with special blessings to them. The sacred water of the Pushkar Lake is known to confer salvation.

Other than this merrymaking, the Pushkar Festival offers a great shopping destination to look around a wide collection of necklaces, textiles and other household items. The decorative items for the camel, women and small handicraft items are some of the beautiful collections in this fair. Apart from shopping in the fair, the folk dance and music of Rajasthan presents an additional charm to this festival. It includes show by renowned musicians, magicians, dancers, and snake charmers to entertain the crowd.

Mutually the religious and the cattle fairs of Pushkar are now regarded as internationally celebrated travelers’ attraction. Pushkar is located just 11 kms from the northwest of Ajmer and well linked with all the major spots of Rajasthan by road. For outsiders, Jaipur is the nearest airport of just a distance of 146 kms. Ajmer the closest railhead located just 11kms from the fair ground. The fascination of Pushkar fair won’t be balance with any other fairs of India. Pushkar Fair reflects Rajasthan as well as India in its own true manner and purity. It is now gaining status of an international fair, the warmth and guest service of the people make your visit to Pushkar an unforgettable and cherished one.