The
holy city of Pushkar is situated on the banks of the Pushkar Lake.
Pushkar is about 11-kms away from Ajmer (and approximately 132 kms
from Jaipur, Rajasthan). Pushkar is one of the most sacred places
for the Hindus. The Pushkar city has the only temple of lord Brahma,
not only in India but also the world. No pilgrimage is considered
complete without a holy dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake. The Pushkar
city has more than 400 temples and 52 Ghats (bathing places).
The Pushkar Lake also
has a mythological significance
associated with it.
According
to the Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma, the creator of the world, was
on his way to search an abode on the earth to perform a "Yagna'
(fire sacrifice). As he was mulling over, few lotus petals fell
from his hand on the earth (in and around Pushkar) and water sprouted
from those places. One of these places was Pushkar where Lord Brahma
performed the Yagna. Considered a heaven for the religiously inclined,
Pushkar is also the venue of one of the country's most colorful
cattle fairs - the Pushkar Camel Fair.
Surrounded
by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other, Pushkar is
a city of temples. The most famous of them is the Brahma temple.
The 'Nag Pahar' or the Snake Mountain forms a natural boundary between
Ajmer and Pushkar. The holy Pushkar Lake is another sacred spot
in the city, where thousands of pilgrims take the holy dip. The
Pushkar Lake has around 52 Ghats. The place is one of the most important
tourist attractions during the Pushkar Camel Fair.
Pushkar
has had a great strategic importance since historical times and
was at the receiving end during the Ghaznavid invasions. During
the Mughal period Pushkar became one of the favorite residential
places of the Mughal emperors. It was at Pushkar that the British
ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe met with Jehangir in the year 1616. In
the year 1818, Pushkar came under the British, becoming one of the
few places in Rajasthan controlled directly by British. Because
of its old heritage, Pushkar begets a legacy of timeless architectural
heritage.
»Pushkar
Fair
A
colourful and lively fair, it is one of the largest cattle fairs
in the country held every year at Pushkar on Kartik Poornima (full
moon, October - November) . The 9 day event is considered to be
the most striking animal fair in the world. As the fair has religious
significance too, pilgrims and tradesmen come in thousands from
far and near. Hundreds of horses, camels, cows and bulls are brought
here to be sold. The spectacular fair is irresistible. Vendor displays
their attractive goods and the villagers go on a shopping spree.
Colourfully filled by turbaned men and odhni-wearing women, the
entire atmosphere is electric and the otherwise serene temple town
comes to life.
The
Camel & Horse races, parades and other cultural events are organized,
which are full of fun and gaiety. After an eventful day, as the
sun sets down, the entire atmosphere reverbrates with the ringing
bells and prayers in the temples. At night, hundreds of small oil
lamps are lit and placed on green leaves and floated on the lake
after the Arti Puja (prayers). the act of worship is called 'deepdan',
and the entire lake is illuminated. The view is simply mesmerizing
and is to be seen to be believed.
