| PUSHKAR
FAIR |
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| Location :
11 Kms. North-West of Ajmer, Rajasthan. |
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| Feature :
Hindu Pilgrimage, Rural
Fair. |
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| In the month
of :
Oct. - Nov. |
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| Pushkar is a sacred town for the
Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the north-west of Ajmer. About 400 temples and
shrines are located at Pushkar around its holy lake, which finds a mention in
the Padma Purana. Legend has it that Lord Brahma in search for a spot to hold
his 'yagna' (religious ritual), dropped the lotus from his hand, the three
spots touched by this flower were turned into lakes. These are today known as
the 'Jyeshtha Pushkar' (main Pushkar), the 'Madhyam Pushkar' (medium Pushkar)
and the 'Kanishtha Pushkar' (little Pushkar). A temple dedicated to Lord Brahma
is located at Pushkar; the other important temples are those of Gayatri,
Savitri, Shiv and Badri Narayan. |
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| RELIGIOUS
IMPORTANCE |
| The Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 flights of
steps, called 'ghats', many having special legendary importance. Lord Vishnu is
said to have appeared at the Varah Ghat in the form of a boar. Brahma took a
bath here and performed Yajna at the Brahma Ghat, accompanied by Vishnu and
Mahadev. Guru Govind Singh chose this site for reciting the sacred Guru Granth
Sahib. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed at the Gandhi Ghat, which was
previously called Gau Ghat. |
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| DURATION |
| There is a steady flow of pilgrims
throughout the year to Pushkar, which is among the five principal places of
Hindu pilgrimage. It is, however transformed into a bustling fair-ground in the
month of Kartik (October-November) when the annual Pushkar Fair and a cattle
fair are held simultaneously. The fair starts from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi and
goes on for 12 days, till Kartik Purnima. Both the religious fair and the
cattle fair are now internationally renowned tourist attractions. A small fair
is held in the month of Baisakh, which is primarily a local event. |
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| THE HOLY DIPS (
SNAN ) |
| 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. The holy dip is most auspicious on Kartik
Poornima. Even before sunrise, people descend the ghats, aided by the 'pandas'
(Brahmin priests) to take the sacred bath. Offerings of coconut, flowers, and
cash are made to the lake and the priests. |
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| VISITING THE TEMPLE |
| After bathing at the lake, people
proceed to pay homage to the creator of the Universe, Lord Brahma, at the
Brahma Temple. |
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|
PARIKRAMA Most
pilgrims perform the oblations at the Jyeshtha Pushkar while some opt to visit
all the three Pushkar and this is called the Panch-Kosi-Parikrama. Many
pilgrims visit all the shrines at Pushkar in seven days and this is called the
Chaubis-Kosi-Parikrama.
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| FLOATING LAMPS (
DEEP DAN ) |
| It is customary to float lighted
earthen lamps after placing them on 'pattals' (plates made of leaves) on the
waters of the lake. This creates a spectacular view in the evening when the
sacred lake takes on a mystical tint sprinkled with twinkling spots of light.
'Aarti' is offered at the lake in the morning and evening. |
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| CATTLE FAIR |
| In conjunction with the religious
fair, a cattle fair is also organised in the month of Kartik at Pushkar
Cattle-breeders bring a large number of cattle of various popular breeds such
as Nagauri, Haryanvi, Mewati, Kankrej etc. to the fair to be sold to the rural
folk who appreciate well-bred animals. The cattle are decorated by their owners
during Pushkar fair and also participate in the races and are paraded on the
sand dunes. |
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| PUSHKAR FAIR |
| The ancient town of Pushkar is
transformed into a spectacular fair ground in the month of Kartik. The fair
attracts a great number of tourists from far and wide. The fair-grounds
reverberate with festivity, as rows of make shift stalls display a bewildering
array of items that compete with each other for the visitors' attention. But
the highlight of Pushkar fair is the trading in camels. Camels are bought,
sold, decked up and paraded on the sand dunes, presenting a picturesque sight.
The camel, horse and donkey races are events that draw huge attendance. Body
tattooing is yet Horse race. Pushkar another favorite activity that attracts a
large number of enthusiasts. |
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| The Pushkar fair brings together a
large number of villagers from different parts of the state. Some come here to
sell. Some come here to buy. Some come here on a pilgrimage. Still others come
here just to enjoy the festivities. The days are filled with fun and activity.
The evenings are filled with music and dance. Come dusk, and the rich strains
of haunting music are carried across the desert sands as the merrymaking
continues deep into the night. The profusion of colours that run riot in the
desert sands, the glee and the contagious enthusiasm of the village folk are a
unique experience for every visitor. |
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| On this special occasion, the
Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) puts up a tourist village. 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 1500 guests at a time. |
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| The village is arranged in blocks
of tents, each with its own identity, named after the famous dances of
Rajasthan. The village also has huts with attached western style toilets and
running water. One can also stay at Sarovar Hotel, Pushkar or in Ajmer at the
RTDC Tourist Bungalow-Khadim. |
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| SHOPPING &
RECREATION |
| A large number of traders gather
at the Pushkar Fair and set up shops. They sell a host of products like bead
necklaces of Nagaur, woollen blankets of Merta, textiles printed in Ajmer and
Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Also on sale are saddles, ropes,
and assorted household items. During the fair, cultural shows and exhibitions
are organised to enliven the event. Movies are shown and competitions are
arranged. Bards and poets recite and sing tales of valour and heroism of bygone
days. Animal races and other competitions add to the attraction. |
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