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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 |