We went to the Camel Fair

The song, although slightly altered, has been in my head since our visit.  "We went to the camel fair.  The birds and the beasts were there."  When I think of a fair I think of the auditorium for events, the rides, livestock animals and of course the food. Like most things we have experienced in India our perception of Pushkar Fair was the same as most fairs we had experienced but very different.

Wikipedia.com states:    

Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajashan.  Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India.  An annual fair held in Pushkar is Pushkar Fair.  According to the Hindu calendar Pushkar Fair commences in Nawami (ninth day of fortnightly phases of moon) and ends in Purnima (Full Moon) in the month of Kartika (October or November according to the lunar calendar). In Pushkar, one of the biggest Cattle Fair is also held for trading purposes and the best cattle in all categories are awarded.  Pushkar fair continues for five days and these five days are a period of relaxation and merry-making for the villagers. This fair time is the busiest time for them, as this is one of the largest cattle fairs in the country. Animals, including over 50,000 camels, are brought from miles around to be traded and sold. Trading is brisk as several thousand heads of cattle exchange hands. All the camels are cleaned, washed, adorned, some are interestingly shorn to form patterns, and special stalls are set up selling finery and jewelry for the camels. Camels at the Pushkar fair are decorated with great care. They wear jewelry of silver and beads. There are silver bells and bangles around their ankles that jangle when they walk. An interesting ritual is the piercing of a camel's nose.

A photo recap or our experience follows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End

for Pushkar 2012