The Pushkar Fair, which is also famous to the people as the Pushkar Camel Fair, is normally held in the town called Pushkar in the month of November, during the period of Kartik Purnima. This traditional festival brings thousands of animals like cattle, camels, and horses together. The fair lasts for a total of a week that is seven days.
It is a colourful and unique display that entices a huge amount of vacationers from all around the world. Trading livestock is not the main attraction of this fair. Apart from this, the main attractions which attract the crowd to attend this fair are the horse and camel, the cultural performances shown here, the exhibitions, several magic shows, competition to see who has the longest moustache, a bridal competition, and numerous more. Besides, this fiesta is also famous as it is among the few of the largest cattle fairs in the world.
Innumerable tourists from all over the world take out time so that they can visit this fair. The pilgrims also take a dip in the Pushkar Lake. It is believed that this is a very auspicious time of the year and anyone who takes a dip in the holy waters of the Pushkar Lake on the day of the full moon would receive blessings and well wishes. This dip is believed to wash away all the sins committed by the person and bring him or her only good fortune.
The Pushkar Camel Fair in the year 2020 is set to be held during the period of 22nd November, 2020 to 30th November 2020, during the week of the full moon in Kartik month. The annual week long carnival will be held in the city of Pushkar in Rajasthan. The fair is one of the most famous fairs in India that has been going on for a long time. The fair is held in the Fair Ground in Pushkar that is located near the Pushkar Lake. No entry fee is needed to be paid to attend the fair, it is free for all. The fair runs for a time of 9 AM in the morning to 5 PM in the afternoon.
History of the Pushkar Camel Fair
During this Camel Fair, the tourists can also get a deep insight into the pure form of the rural life in India. The Pushkar Camel Fair is not only celebratory, there is also religious aspect here. There is also a history behind the Pushlar Camel Fair.
According to the myths, on a night of the full moon, which is also known as a Purnima, all the three hundred and thirty gods and goddesses of the Hindu mythology had gathered near the Pushkar Lake to consecrate that lake. This was the story behind the lake being believed to be sacred and this is also the major reason for all the pilgrims coming here to take a dip in the ‘holy water’ of the Pushkar Lake.
After the bath which supposedly washes away their sins, they also pray at the Brahma Mandir which is the only one of its kind in the whole of India. It is also believed that the water of the Pushkar Lake has healing properties. Mentions of this lake have been found in the Hindu Scriptures and Pushkar was said to be one of the five holy cities and also in the 2000 year old epic, Mahabharata.
Things to Do at Pushkar Camel Fair
1. Safaris
Almost fifty thousand animals come together every year in the Pushkar Camel Fair. Horse safari and Camel Safari are two such experiences that should never be missed. You can go on a safari early in the morning or during the sunset so that you can enjoy the desert during the sunrise or sunset respectively.
2. Hot Air Balloon Rides
A fun activity to indulge in at the Pushkar Camel Fair is the Hot Air Balloon ride. With the help of this ride, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the whole city from the sky and enjoy the beauty of the city. You can easily watch the activities going on the ground from up in the air. This is a thrilling experience that one must undergo while in the Pushkar Camel Fair.
3. Experience Glampling
There are a lot of things one can do while in the Pushkar Camel Fair and one of the major things is the Pushkar Glampling Experience. One of the most important things that these camps do is that they combine luxury and camping. It is one of the unique things that one can experience in the Pushkar Camel Fair, successfully attracting a large crowd to this place. Tents are set up in the Pushkar fair grounds let the tourists enjoy the full experience of this place. The Skywaltz Pushkar Camp is one of the major examples of this and provide the tourists with air conditioned tents.
Places to Visit Near Pushkar
Even around Pushkar there are a lot of places that one can visit. Some of these places are –
1. Ajmer
Ajmer is located at a distance of 16 kilometres from Pushkar and has numerous historical monuments which attract the tourists here.
2. Savitri Lake
This Lake is located at the top of the Ratnagiri Hills. There is picturesque scenery waiting to greet the tourists here. You can ride a ropeway to reach this place, it’s a six minutes journey and cost INR 90.
3. Anasagar Lake <
This Lake is located right at the centre of Pushkar. You can enjoy a calm and relaxing time here while munching on the local street food and enjoying the boat rides in the lake.
4. Jaipur
Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, has some beautiful historical sites and gardens that often leaves the tourists amazed and in wonder. There are also several markets here for the tourists interested in a little bit of shopping.
