Pushkar Fair
November 07th to 13, 2008 are the dates for Pushkar Fair this year. Pushkar, one of the important holy cities of the Hindu religion, is just eleven kilometers from Ajmer, an important holy place for the followers of Islam. Bordered by the Nag Pahar or the Snake Mountain, and the edge of the Thar Desert, Pushkar is a charming town that springs to life at the time of the annual fair.
The Pushkar fair is held at the time of Full Moon of Kartik Poornima each year, as it is believed that a dip in the holy lake here washes away all sins. At least 200,000 people flock to Pushkar, bringing with them 50,000 heads of cattle, for several days of pilgrimage, camel trading and racing and colourful festivities.
The Pushkar Camel Fair has become extremely popular with visitors from abroad who are attracted by the opportunity to experience the local culture first hand. This is world’s largest camel fair. Beautifully decorated camels participate in races that are keenly contested, as it is a matter of pride for their owners. Moustache and Bridal competitions add to the fun element. There are movies and competitions and ballads of the tales of valour and heroism of bygone days are sung by the bards and poets.
