Pushkar Fair: Revealing Natural culture of Rajasthan

Set amidst a picturesque valley about 14 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan, Pushkar evokes a sense of fascination if traveling for the first time. It indeed reveals the natural culture of Rajasthan. Surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other, Pushkar forms a mesmerizing location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair.

As the legend goes…
Pushkar is among the five dhams or pilgrimages that are held in high esteem by Hindus, the others being Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. According to legends, once in a battle lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower, whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three places in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up. It is said that at one point Pushkar Lake was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces (several rajas and maharajas maintained palaces here for pilgrimage). The Brahma temple is the most important temple here and is, in fact, the only Brahma temple of India. It is interesting to note that Brahma is not worshipped except at Pushkar, even though he is one of the Holy Trinity of Hinduism. Brahma, it is said, had descended on earth to perform a Yajna (fire-sacrifice). His wife Savitri was not with him at that time and the Yajna would be incomplete without her. Therefore, Brahma married a local girl and sat down for the Yajna. Meanwhile Savitri landed on earth and, upon finding this new bride sitting next to Brahma, cursed him that he would never be worshipped anywhere else on earth.

It's all Fair in Pushkar…
The best time to travel to Rajasthan is during its fairs and festivals time. You may enjoy the Natural culture of Rajasthan then. The land conjures up a riot of colours during this time. The Pushkar Fair is one of the most popular and charismatic fairs of the desert held on the 11th day of the bright half of the moon. The time of the fair corresponds to the western month of October/November.

It is believed that for five days in a year all the gods revisit Pushkar and bless the devout. This accounts for the unbelievable number of devotees who flock to the lake to wash away their sins and bask in the Natural culture of Rajasthan. Pushkar Lake is the most sacred lake in India. From time immemorial, people have been gathering here annually during the month of Kartik. During the days of the mela, the otherwise tranquil lake is engulfed by religious fervor. Thousands of devotees congregate to take a dip, sadhus descend from the Himalayas and people pray for salvation to the sound of verses from the Holy Scriptures that fill the air.

For the desert people, this large congregation has tremendous economic implications. These five days, apart from being a period of relaxation and merrymaking for the villagers, correspond to the largest cattle fair in the country. Animals, mainly camels, are brought from miles around. Trading is brisk as several thousand heads of cattle exchange hands. All the camels are cleaned, washed, adorned, some are interestingly shorn to form patterns, and special stalls are set up selling finery and jewelry for the camels. One of the interesting sights is the piercing of a camel's nose. Races and competitions are organized. Camels lope across the sands, sometimes throwing their riders on to the vast sands, amidst cheers and jeers from thousands of spectators. An interesting event is the camel beauty contest where they are adorned and paraded. They preen themselves before the crowds enjoying every moment of the attention they get.

Turbaned heads, the colorful veils and skirts of the women bring alive the arid desert. The village women are dressed in their best clothes and finery for the five-day cavalcade. On the roadside, stalls of all kinds are set up to sell a cornucopia of items. Almost every household is engaged in setting them up. Rooms are let out at steep rates. The locals try to capitalize on the massive influx of people. In fact, for most, the earnings during this time are the major part of their yearly income. It is impossible to drive around because of the large crowds. Either you hire a camel or you walk. In this aspect, it is truly a rural bazaar.

As night descends upon the sand dunes, one can hear sounds of the ektara (a single-stringed instrument) and the soulful tunes of the Rajasthani folk songs. The singing of the Langas, a Muslim community who were patronized by the royal families of Jodhpur, can be a soulful experience. Their forthright style of singing in powerful voices has a distinct touch. And as the smoke rises from the makeshift and temporary fires where dinner is being cooked, the town settles down to the mystical night. People begin to retire to their respective tents and hotel rooms to rest until the next day when hectic activity begins once again.

Accommodation in Pushkar…
With the increase in inflow of tourists from home and abroad, Pushkar has now many decent accommodation options available. One can chose from a variety of options like budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodations.

A popular accommodation option nowadays is the tourist village where tourists stay in the tents. This is a good place to feel the culture and tradition of Rajasthan in the idyllic environment.

Reaching Pushkar...
The nearest airport is Jaipur (145 km), from where one can take flights for Delhi and Mumbai. Ajmer is the nearest railway station from where one can take trains for the major destinations in Rajasthan and other parts of India. Shatabdi Express for Delhi is a good option for the tourists looking for comfort and conscious of the time factor. Jaipur-Bandra Express is the ideal rail link for the tourists heading form Mumbai.

Pushkar is connected to Ajmer by road, which is around 14 km away. Buses in most cases leave Ajmer in the morning from Daulatabad bus stand. Jeeps and taxis are also available, but at a fairly higher cost. Distances from Pushkar to some major cities are Delhi (403 km), Jaipur (145 km), Udaipur (289 km), Mumbai (1285 km), Agra (377 km), Jodhpur (214 km), and Chennai (1992 km).