The enchanting Pushkar Camel fair
Also known as “Thirtharaj”, Pushkar is one of the ancient Pilgrimage in India. The entire small town has grown surrounding the holy Pushkar lake. The 52 odd ghats brings back my Banaras memories.
November, 2021 — The myth has it that Lord Brahma created Pushkar Lake while defeating a demon with a lotus flower. However, I learnt all the info after I reach Pushkar. So, how did I end up in Pushkar, right?
My interest was over the Annual Camel fair. I made up my mind in Amritsar that while in Jaipur, I have to visit Pushkar which was about to start from 11th November. I was fascinated by the fact that every year Camel and horse breeders wait for this fair to showcase their best.
4 days after exploring Jaipur, I was ready to make a day trip to Pushkar on November 12. I collected sufficient information from my Jaipur acquaintance.
Unexpectedly, I couldn’t get a unreserved train ticket from Jaipur to Ajmer. From Sindhi Camp Bus station, I had to take a bus to Ajmer at 9.45 am. Only two buses daily go directly to Pushkar — one in the morning and the other in the evening.
In two hours, the moderately crowded bus reached Ajmer bus station. A private feeder bus from outside the bus station took me to Pushkar which is around 11 kms from there. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to Pushkar. The road runs through the Aravalli Hills, winding uphill and then rolls down to the tiny town.
I had sufficient time to explore. I followed google maps to visit the Lake first. There were several lanes which lead to the multiple ghats surrounding the Lake. I took a quick dip in the lake to freshen up. Afternoon time, the market was not too crowded. Clothes, street food, artefacts, souvenirs, toys — were available. I spent quite some time in and around the Lake.
Pushkar is also the home of the one of the few Brahma temple in the world. I didn’t enter the temple, only offered my prayers from outside. Hunger took me to a roadside open restaurant. And on 5th day of entering Rajasthan, I was finally able to taste the famous Dal Baati churma.
I head towards the fair ground, fantasising the diversity on my way through. Scores of camel come into visibility. I was excited, definitely not surprised.
Each camel had face-paints and decorated with hand-made ornaments. Some casually chewing food, or some lying nonchalantly or some camels quenching their thirst. The sight of thousands of camels in a desert spanning miles was astounding.
Traders buy and sell camels during this 7 days of festival. Some costly breeds enters the auction round to realize the true value. A few traders buy baby camels, rear them and bring them at the festival a few years down the line.
Some interesting facts —
- A camel’s peak healthy years are when they are 12–15 years old
- Only male camels are used for intense jobs like camel ride.
- In order to identify their camels, owners use unique body paints.
Apart from camels, horses and cattle were also a part of the trading festival. To demonstrate the capability of the horses, owners even organize races.
Sometimes situation turns bloody too. Rivalry between two horses led to injuring a passerby person at the back of the head. It happened in front of my eyes. It got scared as I passed through that road a few seconds ago.
As I move on, there were camel carts ferrying passengers from one end of the desert to the other. The sunset phase in deserts is truly dramatic. The location with tiny hill as a backdrop and sand till infinity offers stunning photographic moments. I wished I had a good camera.
