Excitement, gaiety and a keen sense of competition fill the air
as the long journey to Pushkar begins. The only temple dedicated to Lord
Brahma (the creator) is located at Pushkar. The Pushkar lake is surrounded
by 52 flights of steps called ghats.
Legend has it that Lord
Vishnu appeared at the Varah ghat in the form of a boar. Brahma took a bath
here and performed yagna at the Brahma Ghat accompanied by Vishnu &
Mahadev. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation) were immersed at
the Gandhi ghat.
Pushkar
is among the five principal places of Hindu pilgrimage. People consider the
water of the Pushkar lake to be very sacred and the ritual of taking dips in
the holy water IS believed to bestow salvation. It I s customary to float
lighted eastern lamps ed on pattals (plates made of leaves) on the waters of
lake.
This creales a spectacular view when the sacred lake takes
on a mystical tint sprankled with twinkling spots of light. In conjunction
with he religious fair, a cattle fair is also organised. The ancient town of
Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular fair ground.
The fair
grounds reverberate with festivity and woman folk shop for bangles, clothes,
utensils, sundry household items & leather goods. The highlight of the
Pushkar fair is the trading in camels. The camel, horse & donkey races
are events that draw huge attendance.
Body tatooing is yet another
favourite activity. Come dusk, and the rich strains of haunting music are
carried across the desert sands as the merrymaking continues deep into the
night.
The well-known and marked with largest participation of all
the festivals of Rajasthan, Pushkar is an important pilgrimage as well as
the venue of a mammoth cattle fair. Bazaars, auctions, music and sports are
highlight of this event. It also offers some of the most exquisite
handcrafted items of Rajasthan that are sure to entice you. The festival is
well organized with enough arrangement for accommodation in the tents.
The
famous Pushkar Fair is a great tourist attraction. People from around the
globe come to the ancient religious town of Pushkar which is transformed
into a spectacular fair ground in the month of Kartik. People bathe, worship
and delight in the dazzling wares of roadside stalls. Camels are bought,
sold, beautified, raced and parade. Most unusual are the small groups of men
and women seen busy tattooing their hands and other parts of the body.
The
fair is predominantly a rural gathering. Villagers come from different parts
of the state and bring their cattle with them. On spectacular sanddunes
camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd pullers. All roads lead to
the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims. The movement of the crowd is like
a tide of colour with currents of crimson, yellow and turquoise.
Evenings
at the Pushkar Fair have their own charm. The silent night is pierced by
calls of camels. Ballads are sung by actors in passionate tones. Folk
dramas, skits and folk dance are organised for the entertainment of the
tourists.
The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC)
puts up a tourist village during the fair. The tourist village is self
sufficient and specially designed to complement the natural beauty of the
site. It has a Coffee Shop and Dining Hall which can cater to 1 500 guests
at a time.
The village is arranged in blocks of tents, each with
its own identity, being named after the famous dances of Rajasthan. The
village also has huts with attached western style toilets and running water.
One can also stay in Sarovar Hotel, Pushkar and Khadim Tourist Bunglow at
Ajmer.
House
Boat