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PUSHKAR FAIR
(November)
Held at Pushkar
near Ajmer once in a year, better known by the name of Pushkar
Cattle Fair, is one of the most colorful festivals of India.
Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy water of the Pushkar
Lake. Legend has it that the lake appeared miraculously on the spot,
where the petals of the lotus fell from the hands of lord Brahma.
Pushkar has an
atmosphere of an ancient town, peaceful and secluded but for twelve
days of the month of KARTIK (Hindu calendar), it transformed into a
spectacular fair ground.. The fair is overwhelming in its magnitude
and in its visual impacts. Vendors peddle their dazzling range of
wares in hundreds of roadside stalls.
RELIGIOUS
ACTIVITIES
People come from different parts of Rajasthan to worship lord Brahma
and take bath in the holy lake. Pilgrims start coming since early
morning in groups singing the religious songs dedicated to Hindu
gods to take bathe in the Pushkar lake. The process continues
throughout the day to turn into DEEPDAN ceremony. The entire
atmosphere reverberates with the ringing of bells. At night,
hundreds of small oil lamps placed on green leaves set the lake
alight. Shopkeepers keeps their shops open for day and night for the
last three / four days to keep the city alive.
CAMEL AND CATTLE
Worlds largest number of camel gathering is a spectacular seen
that floods this area with thousands of tourist every year. The most
spectacular site besides the animals is the day to day activity of
the people who comes with the animals and spend the day and night
under open sky. Horse races, camel races and other animal based
events are organized by the organizing committee to choose the best
animal of the fair.
MARKET AND THE
COLORFUL PEOPLE
The
temporary market created only for the fair period for the all kind
of material used by the villagers, agriculture goods, camel/ horse
saddles, ready made cloths, sweets, circus, magician and the people
with their colorful traditional dresses turns this small town and
surrounding area into a fairyland and paradise for the photographers
and tourist as well. |
