Facts & Figures of Pushkar :
Population of Pushkar : 14,000
Population of Pushkar (During the fair): 200,000
No. of Camels in the fair: Around 50,000
Best time to visit : October to March
Highlights: Camel trading, folk performances, body tattooing, ethnic shopping, puppet shows, acrobatics, best breed contest, moustache competition, bridal competition etc.
Come November and the rich tradition of Rajasthan comes alive at Pushkar. A small little hamlet, just around 18 kms from the religious city of Ajmer, Pushkar, is host to an annual event called the Pushkar fair. The fair visited by foreigners and Indian alike is perhaps the largest gathering for a fair from tourists all around the world in Rajasthan. Held in the Hindu month of Kartik or November, the fair is a great crowd puller.
Synonymous with the world's largest camel and cattle fair, the Pushkar fair indeed is a unique experience. The onset of winters bringing the cool winds from the south west, the golden sand dunes reflecting various colours with every phase of the Sun; adding to the natural colours are not only the vibrantly dressed men and women or the shops selling various colourful goods, but also the decorated and bedecked Camel and cattle which are at sale here. The charm of the fair and also the reason behind it becoming the world famous fair is its original and very rural charm. Here the people spontaneously break into a song or a dance; they forget their daily miseries and enjoy the camel and the cattle races. They buy goodies and make merry. All this adds to the charm of the place and that too with a religious touch to it.
History & Legends
Puskar has has the only temple of Lord Brahma in the country. Myth says that Lord Brahma was on his way to search for a suitable place to perform a 'Yagna' (a fire sacrifice) while contemplating, a lotus fell from his hand on the earth and water sprouted from that place. One of them was Pushkar where Lord Brahma performed "Yagna". Worship of Brahma was considered highly important at the end of the first millennium BC. The holy lake has 52 ghats and pilgrim taking a ritual dip in the lake is a common sight. Although a serene town, Pushkar bustles with life during the joyous celebration held on Kartik Purnima. Every year thousands of devotees throng the lake around the full moon day of Kartik Purnima in October-November to take a holy dip in the lake. Huge and colourful cattle fair "The Pushkar Fair", is also held during this time. Pushkar fair is well-known for it's camel trading and other attractive activities.
Cultural Significance
Umpteen number of traders gather here and and set up shops. These traders sell a lot of products like woolen blankets of Merta, bead necklaces of Nagaur, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Saddles, ropes, and assorted household items are also on sale. Cultural shows and exhibitions are also organized in this fair to enliven the event. Movies are shown, competitions are arranged, bards and poets recite and sing tales of valour and heroism of bygone days. Animal races and other competitions also add the attraction.
Why visit the Pushkar Fair?
- It is the world's largest Camel Fair.
- You’ll visit the only Brahma Temple in the world.
- You’ll see the Holy Pushkar Lake with 52 ghats surrounding it.
- Pushkar offers around 400 temples to see.
- You can participate in numerous cultural activities
- Ethnic shopping items from all over the state are on sale.
- It’s a rare combination of religious fervour and cultural vibrancy in Rajasthan.
- You can interact with tribal folks and understand their culture.
