Pushkar Fair,Rajasthan |
| 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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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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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. 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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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. 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. 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. 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. |
Significance |
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Religious 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. |
General Information |
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Timings 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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Location 11km North-West of Ajmer,
Rajasthan. |
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Unique Features Hindu Pilgrimage. |
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Main Attraction Pushkar Lake, Brahma
Temple, Cattle Fair.
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Suggested tour packages of Pushkar |
 Duration : 15 Days / 14 Nights Places Covered : Delhi, Mandawa, Bikaner-Jaisalmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Udaipur, Pushkar, Jaipur, Jaipur, Agra, Delhi 
Duration : 10 Days / 9 Nights Places Covered : Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur 
Duration : 10 Days / 9 Nights Places Covered : Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Lathi , Dalasar, Mulana, Zarat Camel, Jawalmer Camel, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Delhi |
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