PUSHKAR
Every November, the sleepy little township of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India comes alive with a riot of colors and a frenzied burst of activity.
The occasion : Pushkar Fair
The Pulsating beats of vivid images of the Sacred Brahma land, Pushkar brings alive the rich tradition of Rajasthan enhancing the glory of the golden sand.
Spectacular Fair Ground in the month of Kartik (November month) with bedecked Camels, decorated cattle's, adventures competitions, breathtaking events,
jostling rustic crowd, meditating sadhus, holy dip, vivid stalls, exotic fair, colorful desert, so typical, so obvious, It can be nothing else but Pushkar Fair. An amalgamation of a marvelous juxtaposition of commerce and devotion, Pushkar Fair, a lifetime experiences in the very Holy Land. Most people associate
the Pushkar Fair with the world's largest camel fair. But it is much more than that. It is an occasion for villagers from far and near to gather together and
enjoy a welcome break from their harsh life of the arid desert. And enjoy they do! In dazzling style and colors. It is an occasion for Hindu pilgrims to converge
for a holy dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake to "wash away the sins of a lifetime" and pay obeisance at the ONLY Brahma temple in the world.
The function of Brahma - creating the world - has been completed, while Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer) still have relevance to the
continuing order of the universe. Brahma is also a God of the Aryan invaders and during Vedic times his cult temporarily displaced the more ancient
indigenous Shiva and Shakti cults. With the passing of the period of major Aryan influence, these deities reemerged more powerful than before.
Tourist Attractions during the Pushkar Fair
Cattle Trading :
The Pushkar fair is synonymous to the cattle fair. So there are camels, horses, cows, goats, and sheep all decked up to be sold and purchased. The proud
cattle owners throng Pushkar traveling across the golden sands of the various places in Rajasthan. There is bargaining, presence of several popular breeds
and the parading of the well bred, highly decorated cattle. As is believed about Pushkar Fair it is the world's largest camel fair.
Competitions :
Talking about Pushkar Fair the most striking feature is the cattle competitions. Imagine the entire limelight on beautifully decorated cattle when they race
their ways into the audiences' heart or the manner in which they play musical chairs. The Pushkar Fair sees the best-bedecked camel in parade winning the
beauty contest. But the most hilarious competition of all makes large numbers of people sit on the camels back and usually fall down! Of course! The camel
that accommodates the maximum number of people on its back wins the competition.
Stalls and Shopping :
During the Pushkar Fair the numerous make shift stalls offer a variety of items for the cattle and humans. For cattle there are items ranging from saddles,
saddle-straps and beads to strings of cowries. With so many women around at the Pushkar Fair can the jewelry and the garment stalls be far! Check out the
colorfully clad women buying silver ornaments, bead necklaces from Nagaur and garments of patchwork, printed textiles from Ajmer and tie 'n' die. That is not
the end of fashion at the Pushkar Fair there are beautiful body tattoos that you can get made!
Recreation
The colorful culture of Rajasthan comes alive in the form of the folk lores, music and dance performances besides the captivating turbans of the men. The
bards and the poets enchant the audiences with the tales of gallantry. Cultural shows, exhibitions and movies add to the fun at the Pushkar Fair. Other Must Visits in Pushkar Besides the celebrations of the Pushkar Fair the town of Pushkar offers several places of tourist interest too like its temples, Pushkar Lake
and ghats.
Temples
Pushkar boasts of the only temple in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma thus a visit to the Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir is a must. Then there is the Savitri
temple on the hilltop you must take the hour-long trek to the temple that offers a spectacular view of the Pushkar Lake. The Varah temple, Mahadeva temple
and the Ramavaikunth temple are the other must visits in Pushkar. Here it is noteworthy that all the gods are believed to revisit Pushkar during the fair and
bless their devotees.
Lake and Ghats
The sacred Pushkar Lake is believed to wash away the sins of a lifetime, cure several diseases and even bestow salvation! No doubt pilgrims travel from far
to take a dip in the magical waters of the Pushkar Lake. There are as many as fifty-two bathing ghats that run down the Pushkar Lake that sees the
devotees offering coconuts, flowers and cash to the lake and the priests. In the evenings the Pushkar lake is flooded with lighted earthen lamps that float on
the holy waters like twinkling stars and offer a spectacular sight. The most auspicious day to be at Pushkar is considered to be the Kartik Purnima.
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Rajasthan Trips :: Pilgrimages of Rajasthan :: Pushkar