PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR

Pushkar Camel Fair (2 - 10 Nov)

Every year during Oct-Nov Pushkar explodes with a riot of colours. It is that time of the year when cows, goats, sheep and camels with their turbaned owners flood this holy city located just 11 km off Ajmer. Vehicles are not allowed in the city for a week. In the mela grounds, Rajasthani men sporting handle bar moustaches pose for photos. Women in their colourful attires huddle in groups, shopping and having fun. There are food stalls dishing out traditional Rajasthani fare and speakers blaring loud music.

Sonepur Cattle Fair (November)

The Sonepur Mela of Bihar is another exciting cattle fair that takes place in November every year. The fair is held on the embankment of the Ganga at Sonepur, which is approximately 25 km away from Patna. The highlight of the fair is trading of elephants. Elephant owners from different parts of country come to sell their prized possession. The Sonepur Cattle Fair is once used to attract traders from as far as Central Asia.

The atmosphere is one of fun and frolic. There are cultural events, camel races, camel musical chairs, laadoo oonth (how much wait a camel can lift), camel beauty competitions and host of other events. Traders from different parts of Rajasthan come to buy and sell cattle. And if price is any indication – in 1940, the costliest camel went for Rs. 77, the price was 11, 000 in 2002 and approximately 40,000-50,000 in 2008. In this era of rockets and satellite launch vehicles, the humble camel still rules the roost in rural Rajasthan.

The week-long Pushkar Fair takes place on Kartik Purnima (in Oct-Nov) and it has a religious aspect also. Pilgrims from all over India take a dip in the Pushkar Lake and visit innumerous temples located in Pushkar. The most famous of all – the Brahma Temple – is believed to be the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the world.

Pushkar is located some 11 km from Ajmer and is 154 km southeast of Jaipur. It is a pilgrimage town famous for the holy Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple. The tourism infrastructure is good but the town gets really crowded during the fair and on religious festivals.