PUSHKAR FAIR


PUSHKAR FAIR: OF COLOUR, CAMELS & CHAOS

Every winter I would hear my friends rave about the Pushkar Fair that is celebrated in Pushkar during full moon every November. I couldn’t understand what it was about an animal fair that got people so excited! After all, what could be so thrilling about seeing a sea of camels and cattle? Intrigued, I decided to give it a shot and boarded the Rajdhani Express to the city of Ajmer from where Pushkar is a 30 minute drive.
As soon as I entered the city, the electric atmosphere and vibrant costumes of the locals immediately cast a spell on me. Although Pushkar is famous for housing the only Brahma temple in the world, during the festival, the emphasis is less religious and more carnivalesque. People descended the event ground near the Pushkar Lake to witness regally dressed camels and competitions which made me go – what? Yes, you have to see the competitions to believe them. The highlights of the festival were the camel race, matka phod contest and the bridal competition. But the clincher was the moustache competition. Wearing colourful bright turbans and dazzling smiles, some contestants have been known to have moustaches 11 feet long!
The beauty of the Pushkar Fair lies as much in the charged party atmosphere as it does in the serenity it offers towards the evening. The view of the Pushkar Lake from Out of the Bluerestaurant was breathtaking and the fireworks from its banks which lasted for more than an hour kept me in rapt attention. The Naga Sadhus along the lake, in a state of eternal trance, made for perfect clicks too. Along with the visual festivities, I was blown away by the epicurean delights Pushkar had to offer. A meal of dal bati churma, malpua, and lassi was perfect to get myself ready for the next best thing in Pushkar – shopping!
(Note – Being a holy town, Pushkar is a non-alcoholic zone and the food is strictly vegetarian.)
The shops in the tiny alleys next to the Pushkar Lake are a shopper’s paradise. Stone and silver jewellery, Rajasthani puppets, tie-and-dye clothes, are some of the most popular buys. The day ended with a mesmerizing performance of Kalbelia dancers at the RTDC huts, organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Board. Graceful and dare devilish – they were dancing with fire and swords.
Pushkar Fair is a riot of colour and culture. What you will bring back from your experience are three things – entertainment, entertainment, and entertainment! The Pushkar Fair will be held from November 20-28 this year. My bags are already packed, what about yours?

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