Fairs and Festivals of Pushkar
Pushkar is renowned for its numerous fairs and festivals, which are each celebrated with a lot of passion, excitement and vigor. The entire city is brightly decorated with the entire city celebrating on the street. Pushkar Fair or Kartik Mela or Pushkar Camel Fair is the most important and the most famous fair in Pushkar. It is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world. Besides this, other festivals and fairs that are celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in Pushkar are Holi, Diwali, Pushkar Kite Festival, Janmasthmi, Navratras, Dussehra and the Rainy Fair Festival.
The days of the fair vary every year as they are according to the Hindu calendar and are considered very auspicious by the locals. The fair cum festival continues for a period of five days (from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima) but since the preparation for the festival starts weeks before Kartik Ekadashi, the excitement and buzz can be seen way before the festival even begins.
Being one of the biggest fairs in the world, Pushkar Fair represents the rural lifestyle of the country and especially Rajasthan. There are many activities that take place during the festival such as Cattle Trading, Camel Competition, Bridal Competition, Matka Phod, Folk Dances, Cultural Shows and Exhibitions and the competition for the longest mustache. Besides these, the entire fair becomes a huge market for local handicrafts, cattle jewelry, patchwork garments, printed textiles, silver ornaments and beaded necklaces. Moreover, there are many restaurants during the fair that sell delicious local and traditional cuisine.
It is not doubt that Pushkar is a land of different festivals where each festival brings out various colors of Pushkar. Besides above, all other major festivals including Holi, Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi are also celebrated with the same out of passion and fervor.
Famous Fairs and Festivals in Pushkar
Pushkar Fair
Also known as Pushkar Camel Fair, Pushkar Cattle Fair and Kartik Mela, Pushkar Fair is the most popular fair in the entire state of Rajasthan. Due to its international recognition, it is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world. The Fair takes place around October – November every year during the period of Kartik Ekadashi. According to the popular legend, one of the main Hindu gods, Brahma, during a full moon sprung from the Pushkar Lake.The days of the fair vary every year as they are according to the Hindu calendar and are considered very auspicious by the locals. The fair cum festival continues for a period of five days (from Kartik Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima) but since the preparation for the festival starts weeks before Kartik Ekadashi, the excitement and buzz can be seen way before the festival even begins.
Being one of the biggest fairs in the world, Pushkar Fair represents the rural lifestyle of the country and especially Rajasthan. There are many activities that take place during the festival such as Cattle Trading, Camel Competition, Bridal Competition, Matka Phod, Folk Dances, Cultural Shows and Exhibitions and the competition for the longest mustache. Besides these, the entire fair becomes a huge market for local handicrafts, cattle jewelry, patchwork garments, printed textiles, silver ornaments and beaded necklaces. Moreover, there are many restaurants during the fair that sell delicious local and traditional cuisine.
Pushkar Kite Festival
Pushkar Kite Festival or otherwise known as Makar Sankranti is considered as a very propitious day in the country. Celebrated on 14th January, this festival marks the beginning of spring over here. Makar Sankranti is a major festival in India and is celebrated with a lot of excitement in Pushkar. Many devotees come to Pushkar during this festival to take a dip in the Pushkar Lake and offer their prayers to the Sun Lord.Janmasthmi
The festival of Janmasthmi marks the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the highly respected Hindu gods in Hindu mythology. In Pushkar, the Rang Nath Temple is open throughout the night where the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated. One can see people dancing and signing hymns at midnight. The next day, Nanda Utsav is celebrated in the honor of Lord Krishna’s foster parents – Nanda and Yashoda where people break their fasts and offer sweets early in the morning.Pushkar Rainy Fair Festival
The Rainy Fair Festival in Pushkar takes place between the months of August and September every year depending upon the Hindu calendar. This fifteen-day festival is celebrated during the month of Bhadva where each day is dedicated to a different Hindu God. Almost all the festivals take place near the Pushkar Hills where hundreds of tourists and devotees come to celebrate this festival. Some famous festivals among the fifteen are Savitri Temple Festival, Vaidhnath Festival and Ajaypal Festival.Pushkar Navratra and Dusshera
Navratras, Dusshera and Durga Pooja, all of them are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Pushkar. During Navratras or the Festival of Nine Nights, locals in Pushkar celebrate this festival by wearing traditional Rajasthani outfits like Ghagra Choli and play dandiya ras. On the tenth day, which marks the festival of Dusshera, the entire city is lit up with bright lights. Tourist and locals, both line up to view the popular re-enactments of Ramayana that take place throughout the city.It is not doubt that Pushkar is a land of different festivals where each festival brings out various colors of Pushkar. Besides above, all other major festivals including Holi, Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi are also celebrated with the same out of passion and fervor.