The Euphoric Experience of the Pushkar Mela
Posted on May 19, 2008 in Travel by Prarthna
The Pushkar Fair in India is known as the “Pushkar Mela”. It is considered to be the most popular camel fairs in the religious town of Pushkar, Rajasthan. Pushkar is a small sacred town located in a valley which is about 13 kilometers from Ajmer, 140 kilometers from Jaipur (nearest railway station and airport) and about 390 kilometers from Delhi. Located between sand dunes and three hillocks, Pushkar hosts the cattle or camel fair in high spirits.
Pushkar is located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan where the weathers rise to about 45 degrees and fall to 10 degrees. This holy town does not get much of the monsoons and hence it is always advisable to tour Pushkar in the months of October to March. The dates of the Pushkar Mela vary depending on the lunar calendar. As per the Hindu almanac, the Pushkar Mela is to be held during the full moon (Kartik Purnima), that is, in the November month or in the month of Kartik as people refer to it in India.
Come November and the Pushkar valley is bustling with activity. The silence of the sands is suddenly broken with a riot of colors, dazzling lights, events, noise, music, sadhus, tricksters, buyers and sellers and much more than you’d ever expect from a dull and quiet valley as Pushkar.
Historical significance of the Pushkar Mela, Fair or Festival dates back to the Hindu scriptures, where Pushkar is regarded to be one of the 5 “dhams”, also known as the “Gayatri Dham” (the other holy places being – Puri, Badrinath, Rameshwaram and Dwarka). Legends support the belief that Lord Brahma (creator of this world) who was looking for an abode on Earth performed the Vedic Yagna in Pushkar.
Pushkar also happens to be one of the two places where the Brahma temple lies, the other being the Khed Brahma in Kerala. Devotees from all around the country gather to take a holy dip into the Pushkar Lake during the Pushkar Mela. The Pushkar Fair is thereby a confluence of faith and commerce which is brought alive with colors, thrilling events, ‘Rajasthani’ music and folk dances.
What are the best bargains at the Pushkar Mela?
Camel alone is not traded for during this grand cattle fair but people from all over the country gather to buy and sell animals like cows, goats and sheep.
Women throng stalls that are abundant in exotic bracelets, textiles, fabrics and clothes (usually ethnic wear, typically ‘Rajasthani’).
The Pushkar Mela also has a rich display of handicrafts, brassware and pottery.
The Pushkar Fair is brought alive with the fervor of the “Camel Pageant” where camels are dressed in embroidery fabrics, shells, decorated mirrors and richly laid colored saddles.
Some popular events in the Pushkar Mela are – the tug of war contests between camels and people, camel dances, camel races and ‘laado oonth’ where many people try to get on the back of one camel at one time.
The Pushkar valley celebrating the Pushkar Mela is too little to be described in words. The real experience would be to live it during the chilly winter month of November.
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