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The city has the world’s only temple
dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe.
Perhaps the fair originated from the shrewd business sense of
local traders, who understood that crowded spots are always
good for business.
The Fair is held in the months of
October-November, and lasts five days. Five days of camel
trading, traditional Rajasthani songs, dances, and puppet
shows, beautiful desert belles dressed in gorgeous skirts with
embroidery, and the desert nomads in their turbans and jooties.
It is a show like no other on the planet. There are stalls
selling everything from snacks to handcrafted shoes, belts,
carpets, kitchenware, pottery, terracotta
figurines, metalware,
beaded bags and clothes, and dyed fabrics.
And here you come across one of the greater contradictions of
Indian culture – camel sellers trying to drive the best
bargains and buyers haggling over the terms, a very mundane
affair; and on the other hand you have pilgrims bathing in the
lakes by the temple of Brahma, praying for peace and
forgiveness for sins committed.
That is the magic of Pushkar
Fair, which in a way symbolizes life in India. It is a place
where the traditions of the past mingle with the luxury of
modernity, where people from diverse cultures are welcome, and
where materialism and spirituality are not seen as
contradictory, but complementary. |
