Pushkar Fair Festival 2024, Rajasthan

Overview

Pushkar is a small temple town known for housing the only dedicated Brahma Temple in the world. Pushkar Fair is referred to as the Pushkar Camel Fair. It is held in the city of Pushkar in November during Karthik Purnima time. This traditional carnival brings thousands of camels, cattle, and horses together. This is a seven-day colourful and unique exhibition and attracts lakhs of tourists from all over the world. The main attractions of the fiesta are camel and horse races, cultural performances, exhibitions, magic shows, the longest moustache competition, bridal competition. Besides, this fair is renowned for being one of the world’s largest cattle fairs.Pushkar Fair or Pushkar Mela is a 9-day annual event that attracts traders, artisans, and tourists from across the country and promises a vibrant and fun-filled event. Besides all the religious activities, the fair is a truly entertaining affair for people of all ages.

Why Is Pushkar Fair Celebrated?

Pushkar fair is organised to celebrate the importance of Karthik Purnima. This gives people an opportunity to wash away their past sins. The first eight (8) days of the fair are kept for competitions and cultural performances and the last day is reserved for different religious activities, such as offering prayers at the Brahma Temple, bathing in Pushkar Lake and Maha Aarti. It is believed by the people that all 330 million Hindu Gods and Goddesses come to Pushkar Lake on the full moon night of the Karthik month i.e, on Kartik Purnima to bless the devotees. Pilgrims from across the world come to Pushkar every year and take a dip in the lake to commemorate the event. The other intention of the Pushkar Fair is to bring tradesmen together for commercial activities. Talented artists from across the globe, such as magicians, dancers, and snake charmers, come to Pushkar Mela to showcase their skills and entertain the crowd.

Main Attractions Of Pushkar Fair

Camel Shows:Thousands of beautifully dressed camels are the focal points of the Pushkar Fair. Over 25,000 camels are traded at Pushkar Fair every year.

Cattle Fair: Cattle owners from across the state dress up their cattle, including cows, horses, goats, and sheep, in colourful clothing and bring them to this grand event for trading.

Cultural Performances: The fair hosts amazing cultural performances, such as folk dances, acrobats, matka phod competitions and bride and groom contests.

Moustache Competition: Growing long and thick moustaches is a matter of pride for Rajasthani men. Thus, Pushkar Fair also organises a moustache competition that sees participation in large numbers.

Souvenirs: The colourful stalls at the fair sell a range of local products that you can take back home as souvenirs. From Rajasthani garments, bags and jewellery to brassware, toys, decorative pieces and handicrafts to camels.Camel souvenirs are most popular among tourists visiting the fair.

Religious Activities: Locals as well as the devotees bathe in the holy Pushkar Lake, participate in Maha Aarti, and perform other rituals such as Deepandaan and Pushkar Abhishek.

Things To Do In Pushkar Fair

1. Enjoy desert camping or glamping
2. Try camel safari
3. Take a hot air balloon ride
4. Participate in the Harmony Half Marathon
5. Take a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake
6. Relish local delicacies
7. Engage yourself in handicrafts shopping

Rituals Of Pushkar Festival

These five days are a period of relaxation and merry-making for the villagers.Animals, mainly camels, are brought from miles around for trading. Camels are cleaned, washed, adorned, some are interestingly shorn to form patterns, and special stalls are set up selling finery and jewellery for the camels. Camels at the Pushkar fair are decorated.They wear jewellery of silver and beads. There are silver bells and bangles around their ankles that jingle-jangle when they walk. An interesting ritual is the piercing of a camel's nose.