| | | | | However, there is a religious touch to the whole |
| The ship of the desert beckons one and all. Life in | | | | affair with the presence of Pushkar temple close to |
| Rajasthan is simply unbelievable without this faithful | | | | it. Legend has it that, Lord Brahma while searching for |
| creature and it seems to completely mingle with its | | | | a suitable place to perform ‘yagnya’ (a |
| surroundings. As hues and hues of village folk | | | | sacrificial fire where oblations are poured along with |
| descend on the small hamlet of Pushkar, the air is | | | | the mantras) came to this place. A Lotus had fallen |
| permeated with the colors of life. In the Hindu month | | | | from the beak of Lord Brahma’s vehicle |
| of Kartik (October-November) Pushkar Camel fair is | | | | ‘hans’ (swan) and out sprung a lake. The |
| organized starting on Ashtami. On the full moon day, | | | | lake is in fact, large with 52 bathing hats (place where |
| the fair ends and during the entire week live stock | | | | the people throng to take holy dip) on its banks. |
| trading and horse dealing is combined to give it an | | | | Pushkar temple is the only temple dedicated to Lord |
| all-inclusive nature. The festival is a crowd puller and it | | | | Brahma, creator of three worlds. It was on the basis |
| attracts the foreigners and natives alike. A whole | | | | of a curse by Lord Shiva that the worship of Lord |
| host of acrobats, comedians, traders, musicians, folk | | | | Brahma was stopped altogether. The Pushkar Camel |
| dancers and ascetics grace the occasion with their | | | | fair is all about leisure and pure joy witnessed on the |
| group-wise and solo performances. | | | | faces of people. You can start with the fair itself and |
| Winter is charming here due to the cool winds from | | | | then wait for your turn at the temple. |
| south-west. The sand dunes are all awash with gold | | | | Innumerable stalls adorn the fair grounds around the |
| and nature weaves her snake patterns on their face. | | | | holy place. After the camel and cattle trading is over, |
| The rainbow colors seem to descend from the skies | | | | the fair turns into a religious program for most of the |
| and bedeck every individual and the landscape alike. | | | | people. People throng to the lake for a holy dip which |
| The shops are a sight to see with every hue and | | | | is believed to wash away the sins of countless births. |
| every shade of the rainbow colors doing the rounds | | | | A human being is said to attain liberation |
| in garments and the like. In Pushkar Camel fair, even | | | | ‘mukti’ from the endless cycles of birth and |
| the camels come alive with these colors as they are | | | | death by taking a dip in the sacred lake waters. You |
| adorned with choicest accessories. The simple rural | | | | can also get innumerable gifts for your loved ones |
| life of village folks comes alive with the village folks | | | | from the stalls that have been set up, selling |
| descending on the fair. The original charm of the | | | | handicrafts and other traditional items of Rajasthan. |
| villages around the pilgrimage of Pushkar is seen with | | | | Also, accessories for women, cattle, camel and other |
| interest and excitement by the tourists. The tourists | | | | animals can be got from the shops. which dot the |
| are drawn to the unpolluted charm of these village | | | | landscape of the lake. And after the fair is over, you |
| folks in Pushkar Camel fair who participate heartily in | | | | can plan a leisurely trip around the state. |
| the camel and other cattle races. | | | | |