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There is a great legend behind the city of Pushkar. The word Pushkar means a pond created by flower. The city along with the lake was created when Brahma released a Lotus from his hands on Earth, for the purpose of deciding the venue for his yagna. It is believed that Lord Brahma had to perform the yagna at a very short notice, the time of the yagna being very auspicious. The presence of his wife was very much required and necessary for the performance of the yagna. However, Savitri did not turn up on time and kept Lord Brahma waiting. He got so much angry and annoyed that he married a local milkmaid, Gayatri and sat with her for the yagna. Savitri, incensed and enraged on seeing someone else take up her place, cursed Lord Brahma that he would not be remembered and worshipped by the people on Earth. On hearing her curse, other gods pleaded to Savitri to take back her curse. She conceded and said that Lord Brahma will be worshipped only in Pushkar. This is believed to be the reason why there is only one Brahma temple in the whole world. Apart from the famous Pushkar Lake and numerous temples in the city of Pushkar, it is also famous for the Pushkar Fair. The fair is held annually and holds much religious significance. Also, organized at the same time, is the largest Camel fair of the world. Pushkar is a much loved tourist destination, many who visit there just fall in love with the place and overstay. Alienated from Ajmer by the Nag Parbat (the snake hill), the city of Pushkar holds mystical allure for the numerous tourists and pilgrims visiting it every year. The city of Pushkar is one of the prime pilgrimage places in India. Pushkar, Rajasthan sightseeing tour will consist mostly of the temples in the city, the most revered one being the Brahma temple. Other tourist attractions of Pushkar include a lake and a fort. The annual Pushkar Camel Fair is an experience that will make for a magical sojourn to Rajasthan. A tented city is created adjacent to Pushkar Lake during the full moon days for this fair and it is here that thousands of men and women cover the sand dunes and indulge in festivities, trade in livestock, handicrafts, participate in camel races, dances, drama, and music competitions. This is a truly dramatic event that shimmers and gleams with rich colours and vibrant life. The annual fair in Pushkar is serious business for villagers who spend days traveling across the desert to Pushkar hoping to turn camels into much needed cash. The Pushkar Lake is holy to the Hindus and religious ceremonies are performed simultaneously as camels are being traded. The night at the fairground takes on a Carnival atmosphere. The ferris wheel attracts line-ups of giggling Rajput women in their richly coloured saris and sparkling bangles that stretch from wrist to shoulder. Roadside vendors sell pots, pans, bangles, saris, belts and other various items. Campfires dot the dark desert like bright stars as the evening meal is prepared. Originally begun as a festival to honor Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, it also became the biggest camel fair on earth. The 200,000 pilgrims, farmers and camel drivers who attend it each year are joined by 50,000 camels and cattle, all descending on the small town of Pushkar at the edge of the Marusthali Desert. They, in turn, are joined by Hindu holy men, vendors, musicians, actors, tattoo artists, marriage brokers, outsiders and tourists in a combination county fair, hoedown, shivaree and Chautauqua that lasts seven days. By the end of it, wagers from dozens of camel, horse and donkey races will have passed through many hands, devout Hindus will have performed ritual ablutions at the edge of Pushkar Lake (India's most sacred) and the usually empty and drear Marusthali will have bloomed with thousands of human flowers. This year's fair will be held Nov. 8-15. Little Pushkar, population 15,000, will take the onslaught of humanity and livestock in stride, providing everything from places to tether camels to western-style lodgings and amenities. The town's location besides Lake Pushkar, about 80 miles southwest of Jaipur, gives it quite a cachet. Hindu Legends say that Lord Brahma, seeking a place to hold a religious ritual, dropped a lotus from his hand. Where the lotus struck the ground created three lakes: Jyeshtha Pushkar (main Pushkar), Madhyam Pushkar (medium Pushkar) and Kanishtha Pushkar (little Pushkar), from which the town took its name. The waters are the only shrine in India dedicated exclusively to Lord Brahma and are one of the five holiest places of pilgrimage on the subcontinent. (With Brahma's creative work done, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer became the more prominent gods in Hindu affairs.) Besides dips in the sacred waters of Jyeshtha Pushkar, visitors also take in a camel trading lot that is the largest of its kind on earth, something akin to a giant used car lot only these "autos" chew, stink and spit. At night, the sounds of folk music, storytellers, dances and partying carries well out into the desert. The fair, because it honors Brahma, is an alcohol-free affair. November is the beginning of India's cool season (the other two are "wet" and "hot"), so the desert at Pushkar is not as blazing as it is most of the rest of the year. Under clear skies and in relatively comfortable temperatures, visitors to the Pushkar Fair see how enjoyable a traditional rural celebration can be. Brahma Temple: Pushkar Lake: Savitri Temple: Warah Temple: |
