Pushkar Fair
There is a steady flow of pilgrims throughout the year to Pushkar which is among the five principal places of Hindu pilgrimage.The ancient town of Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular fair ground in the month of Kartik ( October – November ) when the annual Pushkar Fair and a Cattle Fair are held simultaneously. Both the religious fair and the cattle fair are now internationally renowned tourist attractions.
PUSHKAR FAIR
In the final days leading upto the full moon day, the fair becomes more religious in nature. After attending to their business, many villages stay back for the ritual bath in the Pushkar Lake on the full moon day. The Holy dip is most auspicious on Kartik Poornima.
Hindus believe that bath in the Pushkar Lake has miraculous properties and the act of bathing in this lake can even wash away sins accumulated in previous lifetime. A bath on certain auspicious day has even more power to cleanse the sins of the bather. One such day, considered by many to be the most auspicious, is the full moon in the month of Kartik. Since time immemorial, hundreds of thousands of devotees throng to the ghats of the Pushkar lake on this day to take a dip in the holy lake. Even before sunrise, people descent the ghats, aided by the priests to take the sacred bath. Offering of coconut, flowers and cash are made to the lake and the priests. After bathing at the lake, people proceed to pay homage to the Creator of the Universe – Lord Brahma, at the Brahma temple, the only one in the world.
Being a predominantly a rural gathering, Pushkar Fair is a unique opportunity to witness at first hand, the color and dynamism of rural India. For kilometers around the lake, one can see group of villagers camping with their herds. Gaily decorated stalls selling all kinds of utility items to the rural folk provide a very colourful and exotic backdrop to the activities.In the evenings, the lake comes alive with hundreds of small oil lamps, floating in small boats made of green leaves, which are put into the lake by worshippers.
