Yellow, green, red are for turbans, lakes for the lamps, temples for the hermits, sand for horses and camels, Pushkar fair, the most identifiable of Rajasthan's many fairs has come to symbolize the febrile heartbeat of the people of the state. A kaleidoscope of images awaits the visitors who are on a visit to the Pushkar fair.
While hundreds of oil lamps lit the banks of the lake, the entire ground reverberates with tinkling of bells. Subtle codes of jewelry, tattoos, bangles, the face of a turban, the angle of the veil etc are the pointers to the region from where the tribes and the pilgrims come from. One gets to experience several other things when in Pushkar such as tents at Pushkar fair, ash-smeared sadhus taking dip in the holy water, women carrying terracotta pots on their head, young men twirling with their mustaches and so on. An exhibition of culture, colors, cattle, and frolic can be seen when here. Pushkar boasts' of being one of the holiest places in India and a significant pilgrimage center of Hinds. The city is flanked by hills as well as sand dune.
Most of the travelers fall so deeply in love with the place that they stay much longer than they anticipated. Despite a distinct commercial and tourist ambiance, Pushkar has a certain appeal which attracts large number of tourists ever year. Pushkar is world famous for its cattle fair which takes place in the Hindu Lunar month of Kartika. If you happen to be in Rajasthan at that point of time it is an event that is not to be missed. During this period, the town is jam-packed with tribal people from all over the state as well as the country. Tourist, film- makers from all over the world also come to Pushkar during that time.
Pushkar fair lasts for ten days and is held around October and November. Originally the fair was held for cattle trading purpose. However, nowadays the place has the total flavor of Rajasthan in one place. The colors of real Rajasthan along with culture, art and tradition can be found in the fair during those ten days.
Though there are several places to stay in Pushkar, in order to get the real flavors of Rajasthan one can plan to stay in tents at Pushkar fair. The camps consist of luxurious an elegant tent with verandas that have chairs from where one can sit any enjoy the beauty all around.
All the tents have modern amenities and come with attached bathrooms, running hot and cold water and so on. Often there is a large dining tent where people can come and enjoy authentic Rajasthan cuisine and mingle with the people around. Most of the tents at Pushkar fair have a recreation tent that serves as a lounge. A bonfire is lit every evening and lots of activities are planned for the inmates. Folk dance and songs by the tribal are arranged so that guests can enjoy and get to know about Rajasthan culture and tradition. Should you wish to move around, camel ride in the deserts of Pushkar can also be arranged. Day and night trip to the sightseeing places in Pushkar can also be arranged for the guests.
|