Pushkar Camel Fair - More than a Cattle fair

India is a country of Culture and villages. A culture which believes in sharing and spreading happiness. That is probably a reason why Indian calendar is full of festivals and fairs, celebrating almost anything with great elan, whether it is the change of a season or birthday of any of the millions of Gods they pray to.

Indians need a slightest of reason to organize a fair or congregate to celebrate an event. This inherent culture of sharing the happiness have given birth to many a fairs and festivals, many celebrated into the villages.Village fares are mainly an extension of local markets and mainly comprise of coming together of little shops selling daily household items, cultural dance and song shows, puppet shows, games and joy rides for children and food stalls selling fast food items. It is a celebratory atmosphere where people flock in numbers to shop, eat and make merry , often in groups of family members and friends.

Most of the village fairs have shops selling daily household items like earthen and steel utensils, clothes, toys and other daily household items, some of the fairs are specially designed around another important aspect of agrarian economy, Cattle.  Since cattle is as important in agrarian economy as humans, many a fairs are organized around cattle referred to as cattle fairs. It is a place where people come from various parts of the country to buy and sell cattle often in celebratory atmosphere. Cattle fairs are held in different parts of India at different period of times like Sonepur Cattle Fair being held in October November in Sonepur,Near Patna, Bateshwar Cattle fair in Bateshwar Near Agra in January February , Nagaur Cattle fair at Nagaur village near Jodhpur in January February , Kulkunda Cattle at Kulkuda Village in Subhramanya near Medikeri and Mangalore, Karnataka in November, but the biggest of them all is the Pushkar Cattle fair more popularly known as Pushkar Camel Fair, due to large presence of Camel as the mainly traded animals. Nearly 300000 Villagers and locals participate and more than 50000 camels are traded, apart from the trade of other animals including cows, goats, sheeps and horses. People from all over Rajasthan used to walk for days to reach the fair ground (till the modern transport means were developed) in the hope of getting good price from the buyers for their cattle, or to purchase best of the cattle at the most reasonable price.

Pushkar Camel Fair is held every year During the Hindu month of Kartik from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima (full moon day) as per Hindu Calendar at Pushkar, a tiny but holy village near Ajmer, around 140 kms from the Capital of state of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India, whose origin is not known, but it is believed that it was created by Lord Brahma. According to a legend, Brahma  in search of a place for Mahayagna  found Pushkar to be suitable for him, but he came to know that a demon, Vajranash, is killing innocent people. Lord Brahma then intoned a mantra on a lotus flower and killed the demon with it, but during the  process the parts of flower fell at three places which later came to be known as Jyaistha, Madhya and Kanistha Pushkar. After killing of the demon,  Brahma performed a yagna to protect this place from demons. But to complete the Yagna , The consort of Brahma, Saraswati, was needed to offer Ahuti for the yagna. As she was not present and the Yagna needed to be performed , a local  Gurjar girl,Gayatri,  was married to Lord Brahma and yagna was concluded. This act made Saraswati ,first wife of Lord Brahma, very angry and she cursed Brahma saying that he would not be worshipped anywhere in the world except  Pushkar  From that day the priests in Brahma temple are from Gurjar community. Lord Brahma is hence worshipped only at Pushkar , and although few more temples in India and South East Asia are there dedicated to Lord Brahma, but he is worshipped only at Pushkar. 

Another legend is that the Pushkar Lake was originated from the tear drop of Lord Shiva which fell at Pushkar, when he cried after the death of his wife Sati.

Pushkar Camel Fair dates

Pushkar Camel Fair is held every year During the Hindu month of Kartik from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima (full moon day) as per Hindu Calendar at Pushkar,hence it date changes every year as per the commonly used Gregorian calendar. The Kartik month usually falls in October - November. The following are the official dates of Pushkar Fair for coming years :

2012 : November 24 - 28

2013: November 12 - 16

2014: November 02-06

2015 : November 21-25

When Best to visit Pushkar Cattle Fair

The above are official dates for the Pushkar fair, when the cultural programs, shows are organized officially by the Govt and the prayer ceremonies are conducted,although the activities starts much earlier. The best time to visit Pushkar Cattle Fair is usually 2-3 days before the actual fair starts, as that is when, you will see most of the cattle being traded. The official opening of the fair, usually marks the end of the cattle trading and most of the cattle owners leave by the first or second day of cattle fair. Pushkar camel fair is more than cattle fair, it is also a cultural extravaganza, a place to enjoy and participate in fun and frolic.

Recommended dates for Pushkar Camel Fair ( to see best of both, the cultural fares and the cattle congregation)

2012 :November 21-25 ( official fair dates November 24 - 28)

2013: November 09 -13 ( official fair dates November 12 - 16)

2014: October 31 - November 3 ( official fair dates November 02-06)

2015 : November 18 - 22  ( official fair dates November 21-25)

What to see During Pushkar Camel Fair

Pushkar camel fair is a place where you not only will observe a lot of cattles of various strengths and sizes, but also a lot of color and culture. You will see people from all over Rajasthan with their cattle , exceeding over 50000 camels and hundred of other animals including cows, oxes, Horses, buffaloes, goats and sheep.You will see a lot of folk dances and folk songs being conducted through out the day.

You will also get to participate in various village competition games like Turban Tying competition, camel Races, Camel Decoration competition, longest mustache competition,  rope pulling, Kabaddi Matches (local  V/s visitors), Camel and Horse Dances etc. You will also see variety of village handicrafts and daily use items being sold in makeshift shacks and people in colorful dresses from villages buying them. You will also see a lot of shops selling local snacks as well as variety of fast foods. 

During  the second half of the fair, you will see a lot of people offering prayers and conducting special prayer ceremonies. Bathing in the Pushkar Lake on the full moon day is considered specially ominous and is believed to wash you all of your sins. Prayers are offered to departed ones for the happiness and peace of their soul. Taking bath in the Pushkar Lake during this period is considered to wash you of your sins. 

Fun Activities at Pushkar
You can participate and enjoy  the following fun activities in Pushkar:
-Camel and Camel Cart riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Body piercing, tattooing both permanent and temporary
- Participation in village competition including tug of war , turban tying and kabaddi

Where to Stay at Pushkar during Cattle fairs
Pushkar have various options of accommodations available from Guest Houses, Budget hotels to starred hotels, it however lacks deluxe hotels. Pushkar also have accommodation option of fixed swiss tented complexes, which operates through out the year.Accommodation in the hotels during this period of Pushkar Camel Fair, becomes particularly expensive with prices of starred hotel rising three to four folds.

Apart from the above, Various tent operators pitch special tented complex near the fair ground providing accommodation in swiss tents with attached toilets at reasonable costs. These tents complexes comes up about 2-4 days prior to the start of the cattle fair and are uprooted at the end of the fair. They are conveniently located near the fair grounds and offer you stay on all meals, evening cultural dances and easy access to the fair activities ( some tent operators offer complimentary shuttle to the fair ground through camel cart rides)

How to Reach Pushkar
By Air : The nearest airport to Pushkar is at Jaipur, which is an international airport too.It takes about 3 hrs by road to reach Pushkar from Jaipur airport as it is about 150 kms. Jaipur airport is connected to the various parts of India and few international destinations too.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Ajmer , which is about 15 kms from Pushkar, Ajmer is a major junction in Delhi - Mumbai route and have numerous direct train from Delhi and Mumbai. Currently the extension of railway line to Pushkar is being carried out, soon the trains will be extended till Pushkar to give it better connectivity with Delhi.

By Road :Pushkar is well connected by road to rest of India, It is about 150 kms / 3 hrs drive from Jaipur, 249 kms/ 5 hrs drive from Jodhpur and 275 kms / 5 hrs drive from Udaipur. 244 kms/ 5 hrs drive from Bikaner.