Pushkar Fair

15km northwest of Ajmer, the small town of Pushkar attracts thousands of visitors from all parts of the world for its famous camel fair. The occasion provides a great opportunity to have a deep insight into the life and traditions of Rajasthan.

Pushkar is a place of antiquity, which finds mention in the ancient scriptures of the Hindus including Puranas. The Padma (Lotus) Purana, one of the 18 Puranas, deals with the origin of Pushkar. The town came into existence when Lord Brahma, the Creator of the famed Hindu Trinity, dropped his lotus flower (pushpa) to earth from his hand (kar) to destroy a demon. So there is left no scope for doubt that it is one of holiest places for the Hindus. The legendary color of the camel fair, combined with the wonderful scenic beauty and heady religious atmosphere of the temples and ghats have made Pushkar a prime tourist destination.

Every year usually in the month of November, the small town of Pushkar comes alive in the religious festivities, cultural extravaganza and the cattle marketing of the famous Pushkar fair. On the full moon (purnima) day of the Kartika month, thousands of Hindus take holy dip in the redemptory waters of the Pushkar lake in the belief that bathing will relieve them of all their sins, and ultimately free them from the cycles of birth and death. At the same time the town plays host to a large camel fair which attracts hordes of traders from all over the state who gather here to parade, race and trade their livestock. Pushkar is transformed from a peaceful desert town to a place seething with humanity. The streets are packed with swarms of devotees and thousands of tourists. The variety of folk dances and music drifting through the starlit night lend vivid splashes of color and joy to the atmosphere that is already charged with excitement of the vigorous camel races and the cattle fair. This results in a spectacle that create an experience of lifetime.