Pushkar Fair, also known as the Pushkar Camel Fair, is held in the town of Pushkar in November at the time of Kartik Purnima. This traditional carnival brings thousands of camels, cattle, and horses together. This is a seven-day colorful, unique exhibition that attracts many tourists from all over the world. Apart from trading livestock, the main attractions of the fiesta are camel and horse races, cultural performances, exhibitions, magic shows, the longest mustache competition, bridal competition, and much more. Besides, this fair is renowned for being one of the world’s largest cattle fairs.
Description About Pushkar Fair
Almost 50,000 animals come together during this largest camel fair. Camel Safari and Horse Safari are one of the magnificent experiences you can gain at this festival. These are the best ways to explore the sturdy region of the vast Indian desert during sunrise and sunset. The hot air balloon ride is another famous activity to indulge in at the Pushkar Mela 2024. This gives you an opportunity to observe the sheer beauty of this majestic desert city. It is plausible to witness the scenes of the fair from above. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that one should not miss. During this time, one can spend some time with the locals and get a deep insight into rural India in its pure form. Over the years, the fair has found an honorable mention in Rajasthan Tourism.
When is the Pushkar Fair Celebrated?
The Pushkar Fair is celebrated every year on the holy Kartik Purnima. The full moon day in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik has been known to be very propitious. Pilgrims from far and wide come to take a dip in the holy waters of the Pushkar Lake and pray to Lord Brahma. In addition, during the winter, the Pushkar Camel Fair takes place when the weather is far more soothing than the blazing heat of the summer months. Visitors can stroll for long hours without feeling fatigued or tired. The rolling dunes, the vibrant ambiance, and the festive colors embrace one and all.
Pushkar Fair 2024 Dates
Pushkar Fair will be celebrated from 9th November 2024 to 15th November 2024.
Where is the Pushkar Fair celebrated?
Pushkar Camel Festival is celebrated in the small town of Pushkar. This holy town is located in the state of Rajasthan on the edge of the Thar Desert.
Religious Importance of Pushkar Fair
This wonderful event also possesses a religious significance. During the Pushkar Fair, the pilgrims take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake. This is the auspicious time of the year, as it is believed that if someone takes a holy bath on the day of the full moon, that person receives special blessings. It is also believed that it brings good fortune and washes away all sins.
How is the Pushkar Fair Celebrated?
Camels, known as the Ship of the Desert, can be witnessed in large numbers at the Pushkar Festival 2024. The camels are dressed in colorful garbs, washed, and ornamented with clothes, jewelry, silver bells, bangles, and other finery. They are adorned at their best and are paraded around for all to see. There is even a Camel Beauty Contest organized at the festival.
Camel Races– You can enjoy camel races along with many competitions, dance shows, and the trade of cattle. There is one exciting contest that turns the camel into a clown car. Numerous people climb aboard until the camel starts bucking vigorously to get people down from its humps.
Souvenirs stalls– There is a massive inflow of pilgrims, camel traders, and tourists. At the Pushkar Fair, you can purchase goodies from the local marts and bazaars set up for a few days. Brassware, Rajasthani garments, cloth pieces, and camel saddles can be bought from these markets as souvenirs. In addition, women can get attractive jewelry for themselves.
Jewelry for Women– Since the fair is held in the small town of Pushkar, rural jewelry is on display. Rajasthani women love to ornament themselves with chunky silver jewelry in beautiful designs in this part of the land. However, if you are an affinity for gold jewelry, you can choose from the traditional forms of rakhri, gajra, jod, Bala, gokhru, bajubandh, and timaniyan on exhibit.
Famous Rajasthani things– The Pushkar Mela has Rajasthani-style pottery and necklaces made out of glass beads sourced from Nagpur, Jodhpuri printed textiles, and other goods sourced from Ajmer. The cattle traders and farmers are the potential customers for saddles and leather whips.
It is a fascinating sight and an excellent opportunity to witness the colors, aromas, and mood of an old traditional-style Indian festival. You will find musicians, dancers, acrobats, magicians, snake charmers, rides, and food stalls to entertain the guests. The festival highlights are temple dancing, folk and classical music, and an arts and crafts bazaar. The mustache competition is one of the significant highlights where menfolk compete for the award for their facial tresses and is definitely worth witnessing.
Experience the best of this camel fair with our Pushkar Fair tour packages. Go for a hot air balloon ride and witness the spectacle of the camel fair from up in the sky. There are tour companies that offer exhilarating hot-air balloon flights over Pushkar. Savor the beautiful sight of the desert landscape in the early sunrise hour or any time of the day. An International Hot Air Balloon Festival is also organized during the fair.
Things to do at the Pushkar Camel Fair
Although the Pushkar Mela is primarily held to showcase camels and livestock and is the world’s largest cattle fair, other events and features are the main highlights of this fair. These events enhance the entire experience of the fair while gifting the visitor with some lovely memories.
Look at the things to do at Pushkar Camel Fair for a lovely experience –
- Pushkar Glamping Experience
These camps combine the pleasures of camping amidst luxury. An example is a tented accommodation at the Sky Waltz Camp, which offers air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned options for a glamping stay at Pushkar Fair. The other major attraction is the stunning performances by eminent fusion maestros from around the world.
- Hot Air Ballooning
Enjoy hot air ballooning at the Pushkar Fair. Watching the buzzing activities from above will give you an experience like no other. This thrilling activity is one of the top reasons to visit the Pushkar Fair. Further, one can indulge in a number of adventurous activities like paramotors, quad biking, and horse riding.
- Cattle Fair
A cattle fair is one of the major highlights of the Pushkar Festival in Rajasthan. Cattle owners bring their livestock – camels, horses, cows, goats, and sheep; all dressed in colorful attire to be sold and purchased.
- Handicrafts
Take beautiful handicrafts from the Pushkar Camel Fair home with you. During the event, a number of makeshift stalls are set up that sell items ranging from saddle straps, saddles, and beads to strings of cowries. The fair is also attended by women in large numbers who can also find a gamut of traditional silver ornaments, bead necklaces from Nagpur, garments of patchwork, printed textiles from Ajmer, and traditional footwear.
- Elevated Sitting Arena
The elevated sitting arena allows visitors to be seated in a special tent viewing gallery equipped with all the modern amenities. It’s marked by hundreds of brightly adorned camels and horses mounted by riders clad in vibrant traditional Rajasthani attire.
- Religious Gatherings
Besides all the camel races, stalls, and food, Pushkar Fair also has a strong religious association. A large group of pilgrims visits Pushkar Lake to mark the importance of this event while the temple city buzzes with religious activities.
- Harmony Half Marathon
The Harmony Half Marathon is one of the best things to do at Pushkar Mela. Held during the Pushkar Fair, the run starts from Dargah Ajmer Sharif and ends at the Pushkar Stadium Ground.
Places to stay at the Pushkar Fair
For foreign and outstation travelers, accommodation at the Pushkar Fair must be arranged before arrival. However, some visitors choose to finalize their lodging booking after they reach their destination.
Accommodation options here include the Limra Swiss Tents, which are easily accessible. These are mostly cottage housings situated at a distance of about 13 km from Pushkar. If you are taking the Jaipur route, they are at a distance of approximately 150 km. To reach Pushkar from Jaipur, a hired car or taxi is the preferable mode of transport.
Amenities at the Limra Swiss Tents – The Limra Swiss tents are comfortable and spacious. The huge cozy beds are perfect for unwinding and relaxing after a day’s journey. There is a table, bed stand, cupboard, shelves, and other furniture built in elegant designs. A private sitting space allows you to loosen yourself and cherish an exclusive time with your partners or fellow travelers. In addition to that, there are private “sit-outs,” verandahs, attached baths, and other modern amenities.
Other facilities provided by the tents are a travel desk, money exchange, STD/ISD call facilities, complimentary coffee/tea in the morning, Ayurvedic treatment and massages on request, and many more. In addition, the recreational facilities provided include optional village guided tours and other entertainment programs.
Dining at the tents– Along with lodging facilities, these tents also offer opulent dining scopes. You can choose from a wide variety of delectable Indian culinary delights prepared by the finest chefs.
Conclusion
Attend Pushkar Camel Fair 2024 for a rich cultural experience. It is a traditional Indian festival that will give you an insight into the lives of rural life and allow you to interact with the locals. Before you attend the festival, book your stay from our collection of hotels in Pushkar. Enjoy the natural blessings with a stay in Pushkar hotels equipped with modern luxuries. For a more authentic experience, stay in tents at Pushkar Fair.
If you want to explore more of Rajasthan and other delights, you may want to browse through our collection of Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur tour packages. Then, book comfortable and hassle-free travel plans with us.
