Pushkar camel fair

Pushkar is a town located on the edge of Thar desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is famous for its traditional camel fair. In 2011 it will be held between the 2nd and 11th of November. At the beginning it was planned to create the fair that would gather all local camel traders in the time of the Kartik Purnima festival. The festival is traditionally organized around full moon during Hindu lunar month of Kartika. In time the fair became a big tourist attraction.

Pushkar camel fair

Local traders bring some 50,000 camels. It is an amazing sight. It is not all about business. There are races and funny camel beauty contests. Visitors can buy different goods. They can enjoy in numerous performances by singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats and snake charmers. There is even a tug of war competition.

There is also a religious part of the fair. Pilgrims arrive to take a bath in the local lake. They believe that bathing during two days of full moon absolves them from all sins.