Where is it held: In Puskar, Rajasthan
When is it organized: It is a 5-day festival organized every year from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima, the full moon day (the 15th) of Kartik (October –November) month according to Hindu calendar.
Highlights: It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs. Apart from camels, cattle and other animals are also traded in the fair. Other than livestock trading, the fair is marked by cultural programs and competitions like ‘longest moustache’ and ‘bridal competition’, sports activities, ethnic art and handicraft stalls and folk music and dance shows.
Description: Pushkar Fair is celebrated with great vigor by the locals of Rajasthan every year. All 52 bathing ghats around Pushkar Lake stay jam packed during the fair as it is believed that each of these ghats have their own unique features and powers to heal all kinds of sins and diseases. All small and big temples are decked up with pleasing illuminations and painted with vibrant colors during the Pushkar Fair.
The fair started with the sole aim of trading animals like camels, horses, cows, goats, sheep etc. Traded animals are decked up with beautiful clothes and dazzling ornaments for public displays. Camel competition takes place in the Fair every year. The owners leave no stone upturned in making their camels look dynamic and eye catching as the one looking the best wins the prize. The sights of beautifully decked up camels with their owners sitting on the backs are just astonishing and leave many jaws drop out of fascination.
In another type of camel competition, large numbers of people are made to sit on the camel’s back. The camel which succeeds in accommodating the maximum number of people on its back, wins the competition.
Pushkar Fair gives a chance to try out different kinds of delectable Rajasthani dishes cooked with rich Indian spices. However, one must note that only are vegetarian dishes served in this fair.
Visitors to the Fair get a good chance to buy souvenirs of different kinds. Typical Rajasthan ornaments, garments, footwear, artifacts and many more things can be seen on display in various stalls. Ornaments of silver and bead necklace, patchwork, printed textiles as well the famous tie and dye fabrics from Ajmer are special attractions for visitors during the Fair. Of late tattoo artists are seen putting up their studios. Rajasthani tattoos have become quite popular among the young visitors to the Fair.
Itineraries Possible: There can be several itineraries possible involving Pushkar, thanks to its location. It can be visited from Jaipur or Udaipur. From both these places one can further visit Jodhpur, Jaisalmer or even Bikaner and Shekhawati region. One can also visit Pushkar from New Delhi or Mumbai only for the Festival. While Pushkar Festival is on for five days, guests can choose to stay for entire duration of the Festival or stay there for two days. Ajmer is a famous religious place close to Pushkar. It is known for the shrine of the much revered Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chishti.
We are mentioning two itineraries which are easily possible and which can be fun filled.
1) New Delhi (1night) – Ajmer – Pushkar (2 to 5 nights) – Jaipur (2nights) – New Delhi
2) Mumbai – Jaipur (2nights) – Pushkar (2 to 5 nights) – Udaipur (2nights) – New Delhi
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