Pushkar – The Abode of Happiness and Tranquility
Rajasthan is a true hallmark of cultural heritage of India, is prominently acknowledged as “Land of Kings” or “Land of Kingdoms”. The beautiful palaces of lacy sandstone, golden forts along with a rich and thriving heritage of history, culture and mythology offer a great travel experience. At the same time, this tour offers you a golden chance to witness Pushkar Camel fair (Pushkar Mela), considered as the largest cattle fairs in Asia which attracts thousands of tourists to Rajasthan every year.
PUSHKAR FAIR
This Pushkar fair is a traditional & cultural display promising a great spectacle to all the visitors coming from different parts of the world. Rajasthan is also dotted with beautiful and famous temples offering you an impeccable opportunity to cherish this great travel experience to India for all the years to come. An astonishing 50,000 camel, flock into the humble desert of Pushkar in the royal city of India for the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. As fascinating the festival is, one cannot deny that it does unfold a peculiar sight in front of our eyes with glamorously decked up camels strolling wherever your eyes could roll. This fair was originally organized to attract local camel and cattle traders promoting business exchange during the holy occasion of Karthik Purnima. But today, the fair stands as one of the most important attractions to visit on the calendar of Rajasthan holidays.
The Pushkar fair brings together a large number of villagers from different parts of the state. During Pushkar Fair, almost 200’000 people and 50’000 camels gather near the little town. The camel fair is also an excuse for a big funfair. The fair ends with 4 days of a more official part including camel races, horse races and a cattle beauty contest. All these activities take place in front of a very attentive audience, in the middle of the bright colours of turbans and sarees. During the fair, the most exciting activity is simply wandering among camels and camel drivers, and to watch people coming and going. Camel drivers are extremely kind people, and it is quite common to spend long hours chatting and having tea with them under their tents. You can watch people preparing their animals for the sale: they are petted, lovingly combed and shaved. The better the camel looks, the higher the price. Randomly meeting people, you get to know amazing persons. Used to live in the middle of the Thar desert during the rest of the year, the camel drivers also come to the fair to meet their colleagues and friends, and they will share these moments of laughter and joy with you.The fair has loads of activities like camel ridding, shooting, wheel rides etc along with a huge shopper’s corner. From here, one can buy showpieces like armours, swords or the colorful rajasthani pagdi’s, clothes, accessories, etc. There are enough activities and hustle bustle to keep one engaged. Besides the temples, the attraction is the Pushkar Fair which happens every year during kartik purnima. Huge crowds of colorful people, decorated camels, cattle, the exotic delicacies, the vivid stalls, competitions, the spectacular fair ground, exotic food makes it a lifetime experience. The entire desert looks so full of life, colorful and vibrant.
CAMEL SAFARI
Pushkar is well known for its camel safari. All those who travel to the holy town of Pushkar should never miss a chance to go on a camel safari. This is a great way to explore the vast expanse of the desert landscape in Pushkar which pulls travelers from every corner of the world. The most interesting means of exploring the desert around Pushkar is by camel safari and virtually everyone who comes here goes on one.Camel Safari in Pushkar is a great experience where one can explore the rugged terrain of the Great Indian Desert of Sahara using camels as ones carriers. The Aravalli Range here are one of the world’s oldest, and have sandy fields, small dunes, beautiful hills and mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets. The camel safaris in Pushkar takes one to the destinations where one witnesses small villages along the way and if one happens to visit during crop harvesting , the views are exceptionally alluring . Camel Safari in Pushkar is a once in a lifetime experience. Camel Safaris are certainly the ideal way to spend time exploring the rustic and royal Rajasthan. Camel Safari in Pushkar is an adventure, which takes you through the golden sands of the vast Thar Desert providing the glimpse of the desert lifestyle through remote villages.
LAKE
The city of Pushkar is one of the prime pilgrimage places in India. Pushkar is famous all over the country as the most important pilgrimage visited by people all round the year. The Pushkar Lake and the Brahma temple(only temple in the world) are the major attractions here. According to the Hindu mythology, the holy Pushkar Lake was created by the lotus petals, which fell from the hands of Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. The Pushkar Lake is considered as one of the most sacred spots. It is called the Tirtharaj, the king of all Tirath. It is believed that no pilgrimage is complete without a dip in the sacred Lake at Pushkar. Every year on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima, the full-moon phase of October/November, Pushkar Lake attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the country to take a holy dip in its waters. People say that one dip in the Lake on Kartik Purnima corresponds to performing yagnas for several hundred years. The tranquil and beautiful lake amidst the hills has fifty-two bathing Ghats, built around the lake. The Lake is semi-circular in shape. The water around each Ghat is supposed to have special powers. The Naga Kund is believed to give fertility, Roop Tirth gives beauty and charm, Kapil Vyapi Kund helps in curing leprosy and a dip in the Mrikand Muni Kund gives the blessing of wisdom.
TEMPLES
The Pushkar town is considered to be sacred by the Hindus because of his temples. Devotees congregate in these temples in large number to seek the blessings of the gods. Some of the most visited temples here are the Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple, Rangji Temple, Varah Temple and Apteshwar Temple.
THE BRAHMA TEMPLE
The most famous and visited tourist attraction of Pushkar is the Brahma Temple. It is the only temple of Lord Brahma (creator of the world) in the whole world. This place is considered sacred, as it is believed that Lord Brahma, together with all the gods and goddesses performed a Yagna here. The temple was constructed in the 14th Century. It houses a life-size statue of Lord Brahma. The temple is made up of marble and is its floor is decorated with silver coins, donated by the pilgrims.
SAVITRI TEMPLE
The Savitri temple is dedicated to Goddess Savitri, Lord Brahma’s first wife. It is located on the hill behind the Brahma temple. To reach the temple one has to climb a long series of steps. The site of the Savitri temple provides a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding sand dunes. There also the story behind why Savitri temple is located behind the brahma temple. The story goes that Lord Brahma was to marry Savitri, which had to be performed at a specific, astrologically moment. But Savitri, busy dressing for the ceremony, failed to show up on time. Without a wife, the Creator could not perform the yagna at the right moment, so he had to find someonelse. The only unmarried woman around their was Gayitri, whom the gods hastily purified by passing her through the mouth of a cow .When Savitri finally arrived, she was furious that Brahma had married someone else and cursed him, saying that henceforth he would be worshipped only at Pushkar. After casting her curses, disgruntled Savitri flew off to the highest hill above the town. To placate her, it was agreed that she should have her temple on that hilltop, and she said every ceremony that would be held in the temple it would be heard by you but every ceremony that would take place in your temple would not be heard by me .while Gayitri occupied the lower hill on the opposite, eastern side of the lake, and that Savitri would always be worshipped before Gayitri, which is exactly how pilgrims do it, visiting Savitri’s temple first, and Gayitri’s temple afterwards.
“Cherish each and every moment of your life because no matter what happens in life these moment will remain with you throughout your life”
About the Author
Ankit Bhandari
Hailing from the city of pilgrimage centre, Ajmer; Ankit is very passionate about art, tradition, languages and heritage. He has visited a whole variety of places ranging from Pune, Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa to Assam, and attended various literary festivals such as Jaipur Literature Festival etc.He believes that it is through Education alone that all the problems that are prevalent in the society can be solved and we can look for a brighter future of India, our great nation.
He is currently pursing B.A. LLB at National Law University and Judicial Academy Assam. His other interests include Football, Cricket, Gaming and gadgets
