Every November the camping grounds in a small hamlet of Pushkar are abuzz with activity. This is the month of ‘kartik purnima’ when the advent of tourists is at its peak to witness the presence of camels, ‘ships of desert’. Pushkar camel fair comes forth as an attractive tourist destination for visitors overseas due to its abundance of colors which is normally missing in the western nations.
Rajasthan fits this bill nicely due to the magnanimity with which the nature has bestowed it and is nowhere to be seen in any part of the planet. Thousands of camels are attired in the best of accessories lending the whole scenario a magic which often overwhelms the tourists. While they savor the delights of desert life, the memories become etched in their minds forever with a thirst for coming back to the place again.
The Pushkar camel fair is world’s largest camel fair held in the holy town of Pushkar and is a unique experience. An added charm to this place comes with the onset of winters which makes the ambience quite pleasurable for the visitors. The festival hosts around 50,000 camels which are sold decorated or utilized in the races held annually and is quite a sight to be witnessed.
Often, the crowd swells from a mere 14,000 to a massive 200,000 appearing as an ocean of humanity which surges forth during the festival months. The charm of this place comes alive with its originality due to the rustic element present in the natives and the visiting guests are enthralled by their innocence. The plus point of this place is the song and dance in which the locals indulge often forgetting their miseries and troubles enjoying the camel races.
At Pushkar camel fair, people buy innumerable souvenirs for their loved ones which are actually exquisite pieces brought forth by the craftsmen. Besides the religious factor, the tourists are attracted to the place because of the fun factor involved due to the camel races and other interesting activities.
Apart from the fun and games, Pushkar is equally famed for its temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the only one in the country. The legend that is doing the rounds is that while searching a proper place to perform ‘yagya’ the lotus fell off from the hands of lord. The place where it fell down was the place we now know as Pushkar and out sprung the water. The quantity just increased as time passed and took the shape of a lake and it is commonly believed that taking a holy dip in its sacred waters washes off the sins of many lifetimes.
Coming to the culture part of the fair, one can visit innumerable shops set up by the traders. These traders sell a variety of items like woolen blankets of Merta, broad necklaces of Nagaur, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Other items of utility which are sold at these shops are saddles, ropes and other assorted items. After one is done with the fair, one can wind it up with a leisurely trip around the state of Rajasthan. In fact, visiting these places is a refreshing idea after witnessing the hustle bustle of a fair. Also, one can interact with tribal folks who dot the landscape of the state and are a living testimonial of myriad cultures of the land.
source: http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=node/16589
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