If Rajasthan is synonymous with forts and palaces, it is also synonymous with fairs and festivals. Few things can match the effervescence, vigor
and
brightness of traditional fair like the world famous Pushkar. The
picturesque lake of Pushkar is surrounded by hills on three sides
and sand dunes on the fourth-a perfect site for the annual religious
and cattle fair, held in the month of October-November. Pushkar is a
sacred place for Hindus and has a staggering 400 temples, of which
the most important is dedicated to Lord Brahma. According to legend,
for five days in a year, all the gods visit Pushkar and bless the
devout-hence the unbelievable number of devotees who flock to the
lake to wash away their sins.
These five crucial days
also coincide with the biggest cattle fair of the country. Virtual
armies of camels, cleaned, washed, and adorned, descend on Pushkar
and villagers do brisk business. A visit to Pushkar fair is truly
the experience of a lifetime.
There are many legends
associated to the birth of Pushkar and Pushkar Fair. One thing is
clear that most of them are associated with Lord Brahma. It is said
that in a battle, Lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a
lotus flower, whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three
places in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up.
According
to another legend, back in a legendary time, Lord Brahma was flying
over the Rajasthan desert on his swan, when some petals fell from
his hand and drifted down. Miraculously, blue lakes sprang up where
the flowers had touched the soft sands. Just then, Lord Brahma
realized that this was the auspicious moment to perform a fire
sacrifice or yagna. His wife Savitri was not with him at that time
and the yagna would be incomplete without her. So Brahma married a
local girl and sat down for the without her. Meanwhile Savitri
landed on earth and upon finding this new bride sitting next to
Brahma, she was raged with fury and cursed him that he would never
be worshipped anywhere else on earth. Ever since then, when the full
moon shines on Purnima during the autumn period of kartik, the
desert tribes meet to commemorate this epic event. It is interesting
to note that Brahma is not worshipped, even though he is one of the
Holy Trinity of Hinduism.
Attractions to See
- Brahma Temple
Pushkar is the only pilgrimage
shrine dedicated to Lord Brahma in all over India. The Brahma
temple is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus which is
situated in Pushkar. This temple is situated in the beautiful
Pushkar valley which lies beyond Nagaparvat and the Anasagar
lake. This place holds a special place in the hearts of Indians
as it is believed that Lord Brahma, together with all the gods
and goddesses, performed a Yagya here. In the Brahma temple the
image of Lord Brahma is in a seated Palthi position. This temple
is built by marble and decorated with silver turtle on the floor
of the temple.
- Pushkar Lake
Anything even remotely related to
Pushkar Lake has a halo of sacredness and divinity. Legend has
it that a dip in its waters cleanses all the sins and is the
surest way to achieve salvation from the cycles of life. Circled
by some five hundred odd temples, the lake has 52 ghats, which
connect the temples to the water. These ghats were constructed
by the rulers of the different erstwhile princely states of
Rajasthan and some of them are aptly named after the states.
- Savitri Temple
This temple is built atop
Ratnagiri hill and pays respect to Brahmas wife, Goddess
Savitri. A one hour trek takes tourists up the temple from where
a splendid view of the surroundings - Pushkar Lake and sand
dunes of nearby villages- can be enjoyed. The temple was built
in 1687.
- Pushkar Fair
The Pushkar Fair is celebrated for a
period of seven days during the period of Kartik Purnima. The
major attraction of the fair, the camel trade dominates for the
first five days. The buyers and sellers flock in huge numbers to
participate in the trading of camels. Smooth transaction is as
common as heavy bargaining. Trading is not restricted to the
camels as the sale of other animals like goats, sheep and horses
are also carried on in full swing.
How to Reach
- By Air
Jaipur is the nearest airport at a
distance of 145 km. There are regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai,
Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, and Aurangabad from this airport.
- By Rail
Nearest railway station is Ajmer with
direct trains for Jaipur, Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Mumbai,
Ahmedabad, and other major destinations in the region. There are
faster trains like Shatabdi Express who connect the Ajmer with
Delhi.
- By Road
Pushkar is connected to Ajmer by road,
which is around 14 km away. Buses in most cases leave Ajmer in
the morning from Daulatabad Bus Stand. Jeeps and taxis are also
available but on a fairly higher cost. Distances from Pushkar to
the major cities in Rajasthan and India are Delhi 403 km, Jaipur
145 km, Udaipur 289 km, Mumbai 285, Agra 377, Jodhpur 214, and
Chennai 1992.
