Celebrating the Ship of the Desert
The views of large sand dunes, camel rides, camping under the stars, hot air balloon flights and scrumptious delicacies spark a rush of adrenaline in a traveller’s mind. Rajasthan offers a lot, be it in terms of diversity, experiences, colours or culture and the plethora of festivities in the state are enough to strike off all the dates in one’s calendar.
The Pushkar fair is one of the largest cattle fairs and promises a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Located 15 km away from Ajmer, Pushkar is a quaint town which transforms into a thriving extravaganza as the crowds gather to celebrate the age-old fair.
Held every year from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima, the fair originally began as a way to trade cattle and with years has grown into a tourist-driven event. The event takes place on an epic scale attracting thousands of camels, horses, cattle and more than 400,000 people every year. This year the fair is coming back in a whole new avatar and will take place from 4th to the 12th of November.
The highlight of the festival remains the camel- ‘the ship of the desert’ and celebrates the unique relationship between the animals and the herders. Villagers and tourist flock to the town to witness the dynamic cultural bonanza. From camel races to kabaddi matches and from moustache competitions to various dance forms, the fair offers a package full of adventure and enjoyment.
With a panoramic view of the never-ending desert you will see adorned camels, camel decorating competitions, camel dance competitions, auctions and a delectable sample of sweets made by camel milk. One can also get a magnificent view of the fair from the top by experiencing a hot air balloon ride. Jeep safari, thrilling camel rides, quad biking are some other activities adventure enthusiasts can partake in. The stay at the fair elevates the entire experience with traditional yet modern camps fulfilling one’s luxurious needs.
Apart from the unique experience the fair also has a religious significance, Pushkar has one of the very few temples devoted to Lord Brahma and the lake here is considered especially auspicious. A dip in the holy lake is considered significant in the fair days as it is believed that the devotee will be endowed with special blessings.
The fair is a must-visit as it encompasses new-age formats of entertainment, experiential hospitality, adventurous escapades, authentic Indian glamping, curated superior handicrafts and much more giving one a memorable experience to cherish.
