Fair share of Pushkar

For five days, Rajasthan steals the spotlight. It is the annual Pushkar Fair…

Closing ceremony: Artists perform the Gair Dance. Photo: PTI

Every year, the town of Pushkar, Rajasthan, comes alive with bright colours and wonderful sights and sounds. For five days, the holy city transforms into a bustling spot of activities. Locals gather with their cattle and wares, and tourists from around the world come to see and experience the extravagant affair — the Pushkar Fair.

It is also the largest camel fair in the world, where thousands of camels are bought, sold, decorated and raced. Besides buying and selling of camels, there are a number of activities that sets this festival apart. Some of the major attractions are the camel races, cattle beauty contests, camel safari, matka phod and longest moustache, among other things. A more recent must-do in Pushkar is a ride in a hot air balloon. Get a bird's eye view of the town, the camel race and the fair. Many makeshift bazaars also spring up selling colourful outfits, souvenirs, jewellery and interesting exhibits. Watch out for the enthralling folk performances by local artists.

The Pushkar Lake stands (rather flows!) witness to this five-day grand fair, which is now a major tourist attraction. It is held during the month of

Kartik , from

Ekadashi to

Poornima , in the Hindu calendar. This year, the fair was held between October 26 and November 6.

Let Pushkar capture your imagination. It is a fascinating experience and the vibrancy of the festival will keep you enthralled.