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Pushkar FairIt
is the holiest of holy, scared spot which is vividly mentioned in the Vedas and
Shastras. According to Padma Perana, creator the universe, the Lord Brahma threw
a lotus in search of a scared spot, in order to save the world and all the humanity
from the onslaught of the Kaliyuga. Touring all over the world the lotus touched
three spots in the earth, from the spots water has taken out to create the lake.
Fulfilling his desire Brahma aspired to perform a yagna here. 33 crore deities
along with Brahma came to do the holy yagna in Pushkar.
In the Pushkar
lake 15 ghats are noteworthy but the number of total ghats are 52. Out of these
ghats Gaughat, Barahaghat, Rajghat, Swarupghat, Panchavirghat are the most famous.
It is believed that if one takes bath in Pushkar Lake, then he or she will definitely
will get moksha or the sacred liberation of the human atma or soul.
The
most attractive temple here is the Brahma Temple. The temple is made of white
marble. In the sanctrum is the God Brahma with four faces and red coloured body,
silver crown on head and seated on a silver throne.
Pushkar, an important
pilgrim centre in Rajasthan, is famous for world's largest camel fair, The Pushkar
fair. This fair is one of the main cultural activities of Pushkar. It is held
in the month of November every year. Pushkar fair is well-known for its camel
trading and other religious activities. Villagers come from different parts of
the state and bring their cattle with them. The festival is full of folk dance,
and music. Colourful shops make this fair a very charming cultural event. Camel
races are also held during this vibrant festival.
This fair is held at
Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually during October-
November. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively
spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in their colourful traditional attire,
saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows,
sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest
cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people from all over
Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad.
Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes,
camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. Necklaces of glass beads from
Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur and Ajmer are all on sale here.
Farmers, cattle traders and breeders buy and sell their animals, leather whips,
saddles etc. There are facilities for camel rides also.
This livestock
fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration. Pushkar is among
the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. It has a
large number of temples including one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord
Brahma in India. Hundreds of thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy
Pushkar lake on the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika
month) and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir). It is
believed that Lord Brahma, the creator, wished to perform a 'yagna' following
his long years of penance. During his sojourn in search of a place for yagna,
Brahma dropped a lotus from heaven which created the lake Pushkar. It was on the
Karthika night that a drop of nectar fell in this lake, thereby making it sacred.
Pilgrims flock from all over India to be in Pushkar at this auspicious time. They
also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present at Pushkar
Lake during the occasion.
Camel trading is the main activity of Pushkar
Fair. So many interesting events are held during this fair. Camel races and other
events like the Puppet show, cattle show and Magic show are also the part of this
event. Pushkar is also the sacred place for Hindus. Amidst chanting of Vedic mantras
people take bath in the Pushkar Lake. Shopping is one of the main activities during
this festival. Decorative items for Cattles, like saddles, saddle-straps and beads
are sold. One can buy jewelry, garments, silver ornaments, bead necklaces etc.
The trading which involves a great deal of bargaining between the cattle
traders and the buyers add to the spirit of the fair. Apart from the religious
rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events.
The variety of folk dances, dramas and songs lend colour and melody to the atmosphere
that is already charged with excitement of the camel races and the cattle fair.
The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls
and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation has taken
adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the fair site and to accommodate
the fairgoers.
Pushkar Fair is believed to be the largest cattle
trade fair in the world and coincides with a Hindu religious celebration.
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