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PUSHKAR
FAIR & FESTIVAL
Easily the most easily
indentifiable of Rajasthan's many fairs, Pushkar has
come to symbolise the
febrile heartbeat of the people of the state. Held in
November in Pushkar, the temple town close to Ajmer,
where an 8thcentury temple of Brahma drawns the
faithful, it is located on the banks of a lake.
Pilgrims bathe at the ghats and pary at the temple,
while the actual fair is held in the vast stretching,
desert around it, here traders sed camp to strike
deals at India's and probably the world's largest
camel fair, though horses also also sold, It is
also a time for frineds and families to get together,
camp in the desert entertain each other with folk
songs adn dances, cook meals over camp fires, and
wander through the exuberant melle of people
looking for handcrafs. merely to stand in a queue for
the giant wheel special tented camps are set up on the
occasion for visitors but such is the draw of this
fair internationallly, that even these are soon
exhausted and people may have to stay in nearby Ajmer.
The
festivity advances to the open sandspreads of the Polo
Grounds, followed by camel races, camel milking, fur
cutting design, the best breed competition, camel
acrobatics, camel bands and watching all this, are the
gaping spectators. The camel display amazing
foot-work, dancing gracefully to the slightest
direction of their riders.
Colourful
bridles, bejeweled necks, jingling anklets and long,
lanky camel shadows on dusky sands, cast a magic
spell. The jubilant, skirt-swirling Gair dancers, the
awe inspiring Fire dance, and dazzling fire-works
light up the fortified desert city of Bikaner.
According to mythology, he performed the 'Yajna' at
Jyeshtha Pushkar from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi to
Purnima. Lakhs of devotees assemble and bathe in the
holy waters during this period of the year; but
bathing on the last day which is the full moon (Purnima)
day, confers special blessings.
One of the major attractions in Pushkar is the Pushkar
Fair the cattle fair is held here on this
occasion, where other animals like camels and horses
are also bought and sold. It is attended by people
from far and wide.
This
lake soon become a favourite resort of pilgrims, and
during the midlle Ags temples and cenotaphs. Gradually
quite a town of relegious buildings sprang up, peopled
by Brahmins. The wealthy pilgrims from all parts of
India brought untold riches to Pushkar, and the
princes spared no expense to enrich the holy
inhabitations of the sacred town. Padma Purana,
elaborately describes the origin and importance of
this lake. It says that Brahma, the Creator of the
Universe, was once contemplating to locate a suitable
spot on earth to perform a 'Yajna' (sacrificial
ritual), the lotus fell from his hand and rebounding,
struck the earth at three places within a circuit of
kms. Water issued forth, from all the three places and
the Creator called all the three as Pushkar (lotus)
distinguishing them as 'Jyeshtha' (elder), 'Madhya'
(central) and 'Kanishtha' (younger).
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