Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan, India

 

Pushkar Fair, also known as Pushkar Camel Fair or locally Kartik Mela or Pushkarka Mela, is an annual multi-day livestock fair and cultural festival held in Pushkar town near Ajmer city in Ajmer district in (Rajasthan, India). The fair begins with the Hindu calendar month of Kartik and ends on Kartik Purnima, which usually coincides with late October and early November in the Gregorian calendar. In 1998, more than 1 million visitors came to Pushkar during the year. The Pushkar fair alone attracts more than 200,000 visitors.

Pushkar fair is one of the largest camel, horse and cattle fairs in India. Apart from livestock trade, the season of Hindu pilgrimage to Pushkar Lake is important. Due to the colder season and the abundance of colorful cultural themes, Pushkar exhibition has become a significant tourist attraction for domestic and foreign travelers. Cultural events and competitions include dance, tug-of-war between women's teams as well as men's teams, "Matka Food" competition, "Longest Mustache" competition, "Bride Competition", camel racing, etc.

Thousands of people go to the shores of Pushkar Lake where the fair is held. Men trade their livestock, which include camels, horses, cows, sheep, and goats. Village families shop at handicraft stalls full of bracelets, clothes, textiles and fabrics. The camel race starts at the festival, followed by music, songs and exhibitions. Among these events, the most awaited is the test of how the camel can bring things. For the demonstration, the men go one after the other on a group of camels.

Pushkar is located in the central part of eastern Rajasthan, on the western side of the Aravalli mountains. The nearest airport from Pushkar is Kishangarh Airport in Ajmer, about 40 km (25 mi) northeast. Jaipur is well connected with all major cities of India. Pushkar is about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) from Ajmer and is connected by the Pushkar Road (Highway 58) which passes over the mountains of the Aravalli range. Ajmer is also the nearest major railway station.

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