Take a trip to a side of India few people see: the Pushkar Camel Fair, an annual meeting of dromedaries, sadhus and more.
Located in the region of Rajasthan, Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India, said to have been created by the Lord Brahma. It is one of the five most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus, who travel to the holy pond at Katas Raj Temple, believed to have formed from Shiva’s tears after he lost his wife Sati. The pond is a popular destination among foreign backpackers, who have also recently discovered the annual Camel Fair, which was originally for camel trading but transformed into a festival of Rajasthani culture.
An article in the Imperial Gazetteer of India from the early 1900s has records of 100,000 pilgrims attending the festival. Today, that number has grown to 300,000 with an additional 50,000 camels, many of which are sold as livestock. Others are entered into races or beauty contests, elaborately decorated with cloth, jewelry, bells and bangles. One popular competition combines a rodeo with a clown car, seeing how many people can climb onto a camel before it bucks them off.
As oil prices rise in rural north India, camels are in high demand. Unlike most automobiles, camels can live for up to 80 years and are useful in both transportation and agriculture, in addition to producing milk. Camels are worth their weight in rupees, but are a fraction of a tractor’s price. Furthermore, the people of Rajasthan make every use of the animal when it dies: meat, hair, leather, bone and all. Even their excrement is highly valuable as fuel in a desert where trees are scarce.
While the camel fair is the heart of the festival, it is a colorful combination of Indian culture and wacky attractions. Magicians, dancers and snake charmers peddle their entertainment for children and Westerners while red-eyed sadhus wander the grounds sipping on their ganja-infused bhang. Like most festivals, there will probably be a Ferris wheel, but at Pushkar you will also see its famous Cage of Death, where cars and bikes swirl around on a gravity-defying track.
There is also a bridal competition, tug-of-war contest and a waxed mustache pageant, where competitors give America’s most bearded hipsters a run for their money. The festival lasts about a week, but with all the craziness, take some time to appreciate the spiritual aspect. Every morning at daybreak, sadhus, herders and foreigners congregate at the baths. Believing the purifying waters to be at their most efficacious, the crowds chant “Asvodiyov Brahma” to cleanse their spirit, returning the dust and sin of their soul back to the earth.
Read This Next
Top 5: Historic Sites of Rajasthan
Asia
May 25, 2015#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedDestinations
Nov 20, 2024What Destinations Are Trending in 2025?
Luxury travel company Scott Dunn looks ahead to 2025 with predictions of hot destinations to visit. These focus on under-explored locations, sustainable tourism and exclusive experiences.
Sponsored Content
Seoul: Your Favorite Worldwide City
Seoul is the place for your next bleisure destination.
Destinations / Europe
Nov 20, 2024Where to Find the Best Stargazing Spots in Ireland
This year, the Northern Lights put on quite the display across Ireland, but don’t think these lights are the only thing you can see in Ireland. In fact, many spots across the country provide some of the best opportunities to stargaze thanks to low levels of light pollution. Ireland has three International Dark Sky Parks and even more spots which, although not accredited, are worth a visit for anyone wishing to see the sky in its unfiltered form.
Hotel
Nov 19, 2024A New Ritz-Carlton Comes to Cancún
After a hiatus, The Ritz-Carlton brand is coming back to Cancún, with the 2027 opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún, Punta Nizuc.
Sponsored Content
Discover Greece’s Tower Towns: A Journey Through History
Greece's tower towns offer a captivating blend of history, architecture and stunning landscapes that make them perfect for curious travelers. These towns, particularly found in the Mani region of the Peloponnese, are defined by stone towers built during the medieval period. Constructed for both defense and as symbols of family pride, the towers stand as a testament to the region's turbulent history and its residents’ resilience.
Hotel
Nov 19, 2024Hilton, Universal Pictures Debut Suite Inspired by Wicked
Hilton and Universal Pictures invite fans of Wicked to indulge in a spellbinding stay in a new, spectacular themed suite. From Nov. 21–Jan. 5, travelers can ‘Stay Like’ Wicked at New York Hilton Midtown.
ShareThis