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Pushkar

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Pushkar

Pushkar

Lord Brahma, it is said, did not rest after creating the world and its inhabitants. He set out to perform a yagna for peace, but a celestial yagna such as this needed a apecial location. The Padma Purana says that Brahma went to Lord Vishnu with the problem. Vishnu dropped a lotus on earth, and due to its impact, the water of pushkar (pushpa means flower, kar means hand) lake sprang forth.
Tiny Pushkar is a major pilgrimage center. Devout Hindus are expected to dip in the waters here at least once in their lifetime, and for many, this is the final stop on a tour of India's sacred sites. A staggering number of devotees converge upon Pushkar during the full moon of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika (Oct. - Nov.), which coincides with the world famous Pushkar oont mela (camel fair). During the fair, the largest of its kind in the world, the tiny town is transformed into a swarming beehive of activity- don't miss it
Pushkar's sacred lake is considered to be primordial. The three main temple in town- of Brahma, of Vishnu as Varaha, and of Shiva as Apteshwar-are said to date the 10th century though no such antiquity seems evident now. The temple have been remade, painted over and added to. The Brahma temple in its present form dates to 1809, while the Varaha idol is said to date to 1727. The Savitri temple structure dates to the 17th century.
The most interesting building in Pushkar is the old Rangji Temple, dating to 1844 (not to be confused with the recently built Rangi temple) constructed by a tamil Vaishnava sect, it showcases a mix of tamil temple features such as gopurams hand in hand with typically rajasthani chhatris (cenotaphs)
Given its sacred atmosphere, picturesque surroundings, and mela induced fame, Pushkar was powerless to escape its fate as a backpacker Mecca. The main street - a jumble of internet cafes shops, and rooftop restaurants - feels more like a traveler's fantasyland than India. Venture out of the bazaar to the other side of the lake or up into the surrounding hills and you will discover the magic that drew people to Pushkar in the first place.

Like Goa or Dharamshala, Pushkar is one of those travellers’ centres where people go for a little rest and recuperation from the hardships of life on the Indian road. It’s a delightful little village, only 11 km from Ajmer but separated from it by Nag Pahar, the ‘Snake mountain’ and right on the edge of the beautiful Pushkar Lake with many bathing ghats, for Pushkar is also an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. It’s a really nice, laid back place but in October-November each year it comes alive with the huge Pushkar Cattle Fair.

Pushkar Mela: fairest of fairs:
That singular carnival we know as the pushkar mela can actually best be understood as a conglomeration of two or even three fairs. There's religious fair, spanning the last five days of the kartik month from Ekadashi (11th day of the waxing phase of the moon) to Purnima (full moon day), in November. The cattle fair of international fame starts taking shape about a week before Ekadashi. Once any animal arrives at the Pushkar fair, there is a traditional taboo on its leaving before Ekadashi, starting when the cattle fair wanes as the moon grows; and the rising full moon of Purnima - even as the sun sets on the other side of the sand dunes - signals the closure of the cattle fair. In the interstices exists a rural trade and entertainment fair. It's a week long, sometime charming, often garish extravaganza, finishing on the night of the full moon.

Things to see and do:
For the devotee, it is essential to take a dip in the sarovar, and to visit the Brahma Temple. The offerings and prices do not change during the fair.

Shopping Of course, there are camels to be bought for anything between Rs. 3000 and 25000, a more do-able

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 level, you can get ornate swords, carved bamboo, walking sticks and staffs, rajasthani jootis and the musical instrument, Ravanhatta.

The Pushkar Bazaar, open all seven days, is a mecca of cheap and gaily Shiny skirts, tops, jholas and such like, all catering to the backpacker Israeli and European tourist.

Cattle Fair:
At the moon of Kartik Poornima each year up to 200000 people flock to Pushkar, bringing with them 50000 cattle for several days of pilgrimage, horse dealing, camel racing and colour festivities. The RajasthanTourist office has promoted it as an international attraction by adding Rajasthan dance programmes and other cultural events and putting up a huge tent city for foreign visitors. It’s one of India’s biggest and most colourful festivals. The fair will take place:

1981 8-11 November
1982 27-30 November
1983 16-20 November
1984 4-8 November

Temples:
Pushkar is packed with temples although many were destroyed by Aurangzeb. The most famous is that of Brahma, which is said to be the only temple to Brahma in India. It’s marked by a red spire and over the entrance gateway is the ‘hans’ or goose symbol of Brahma who is said to have Personally chosen Pushkar as its site. The Ranji temple is also important.

Getting There:
Buses run frequently from Ajmer, outside the railway station, for Rs 1.50. It’s quite a spectacular climb up and over the hill but the bus is likely to be too crowded to offer much of a view. The private minibuses are like little old hot rods.

Things to Buy:
Like any good freak centre there are lots of travellers’ clothes tailors in town. During the Cattle Fair there are many artisans selling locally made jewwllwry and other items.

Kishangarh:
Noted for its school of painting which is still produced today, this small town is 27 km form Ajmer.


 

   
 
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