PUSHKAR MELA
short description
Pushkar Mela is an annual fair in Rajasthan known for camel trade.
dismarker
[{"nid":"3002683","title":"Dal Baati Churma","body":"Traditional Rajasthani delicacies like Dal Baati Churma are generally available at the Pushkar Mela. As the name suggests, Dal Baati Churma consists of three main elements, namely dal, baati, and churma. \nDal is prepared from a variety of lentils, including toor dal (pigeon pea), chana dal (chickpea) and moong dal (green gram). The lentils are boiled and cooked together before being tempered with spices. Baati is a type of hard bread made of atta (wheat). It is cooked in earthen stoves and coated with ghee. Churma is a sweet and coarse, and is traditionally made from coarse wheat flour, ghee, and jaggery or sugar.","field_galleryimage":" \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/2048px-_Delectable_Dal_Baati_Churma_.jpg\u0022 width=\u00222048\u0022 height=\u00221697\u0022 alt=\u0022Dal, baati, and churma, a traditional dish of Rajasthan. Source: Wikimedia Commons\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n","field_categories_list":"Cuisines","field_description_discover_":"","field_discover_image":"","field_galleryimage_1":" \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/2048px-_Delectable_Dal_Baati_Churma_.jpg\u0022 width=\u00222048\u0022 height=\u00221697\u0022 alt=\u0022Dal, baati, and churma, a traditional dish of Rajasthan. Source: Wikimedia Commons\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n","field_marker_detail":"","field_video":"","totalcount":"1","like_and_dislike":"\n \n \n Like\n 0\n \n \n Dislike\n 0\n \n \n\n"}], [{"nid":"3002684","title":"The Curse of Savitri","body":"Pushkar Lake is believed to have been created when Lord Brahma cast a lotus flower (pushkar) to the earth. On the day of Kartik Purnima, Lord Brahma intended to perform a yajna at the Pushkar Lake. However, his wife Savitri was absent at this moment and the yajna could not be performed alone. To perform the ritual, Lord Brahma quickly married a local milkmaid named Gayatri. With her assistance, the yajna was successfully completed and the lake became blessed. When Savitri returned, she was furious to see Gayatri with Lord Brahma. She cursed her husband, stating that he would not be worshipped anywhere except Pushkar. Indeed, one of the few Brahma temples in India can be found in this town. \nSome variations of this popular myth can be found in various scriptures. Texts like the Padma Purana state that Savitri was appeased by the gods and ultimately accepted Gayatri as her sister. The Matsya Purana identifies both Savitri and Gayatri as forms of Goddess Saraswati.","field_galleryimage":"","field_categories_list":"Myths and Legends","field_description_discover_":"","field_discover_image":"","field_galleryimage_1":"","field_marker_detail":"","field_video":"","totalcount":"1","like_and_dislike":"\n \n \n Like\n 0\n \n \n Dislike\n 0\n \n \n\n"}], [{"nid":"3002685","title":"Vrahadatta\u2019s Parikrama","body":"Another legend narrates the tale of a king named Vrahadatta. Every year, Vrahadatta arrived at Pushkar on the day of Kartik Purnima and performed the parikrama. Once, a group of sages asked him why he stayed for only one day and did not bathe in the water or worship the gods. Vrahadatta responded that in his last life, he was a poor, mute man who used to earn his living by taking other people\u2019s animals to graze in the woods. Once, on the day of Kartik Purnima, a cow that was entrusted to him strayed away. The owner of the cow who insisted that the animal be brought back. Thus, Vrahadatta followed the hoofmarks of the cow in the moonlit night. He unintentionally completed a parikrama of the lake before he located the cow and returned her. As a result of this incident, the poor Vrahadatta was reborn as a king. He was married to the cow, who was reborn as a queen. The person who sent him on this quest was reborn as his minister. Thus, anyone who circumambulates the lake on the night of Kartik Purnima gets freed from sin and is blessed with good fortune.","field_galleryimage":"","field_categories_list":"Myths and Legends","field_description_discover_":"","field_discover_image":"","field_galleryimage_1":"","field_marker_detail":"","field_video":"","totalcount":"1","like_and_dislike":"\n \n \n Like\n 0\n \n \n Dislike\n 0\n \n \n\n"}]
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{"facets":[],"facets_metadata":[],"filters":[],"pager":{"current_page":0,"items_per_page":1,"total_pages":0,"total_results":1},"results":[{"title":"Camel Trade","nid":"3002682","body":"The Pushkar Mela is legendary for its vibrant camel trading, drawing traders and onlookers from far and wide. While various breeds of horses, sheep, goats and bulls are also available at Pushkar, it is the thousands of camels put up for sale that impart a distinct character to this annual desert fair. The camels are thoroughly washed and cleaned before being adorned with colourful cloths and handmade ornaments known as gorband. They are sometimes decorated with paint or trimmed in distinct designs to attract buyers.\nApart from the buying and selling of camels, several camel competitions can also be witnessed at the Pushkar Mela. These include contests to judge the best camel decoration and the finest camel dance. Races and polo matches involving the use of camels have also been organised in recent times. \nIndeed, the camel has become such a popular symbol of the Pushkar Mela that it has been incorporated into the food being sold at the fair. Camel cheese and various treats prepared with camel milk can be sampled at the festival.","field_sta_category":"","field_slider_images":" \u003Ca href=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/Pushkar_Fair_%284042342708%29.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/Pushkar_Fair_%284042342708%29.jpg\u0022 width=\u0022902\u0022 height=\u0022600\u0022 alt=\u0022Traders gathered at the Pushkar Mela, Rajasthan. Source: Wikimedia Commons\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n, \u003Ca href=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/2048px-Pushkar_Mela.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/2048px-Pushkar_Mela.jpg\u0022 width=\u00222048\u0022 height=\u00221367\u0022 alt=\u0022Young girls in traditional attire at Pushkar Mela. Source: Wikimedia Commons\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n, \u003Ca href=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/4096px-Pushkar_Fair.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/system\/files\/2025-10\/4096px-Pushkar_Fair.jpg\u0022 width=\u00224096\u0022 height=\u00222731\u0022 alt=\u0022A decorated camel drawn cart at Pushkar Mela. Source: Wikimedia Commons\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n","field_states":"","field_marker_details":"","field_thumbnail":""}],"sorters":[],"system":{"page_key":"page"}}
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The Pushkar Mela, or Pushkar Fair, is an annual event held in the town of Pushkar, Rajasthan. Known as one of the world’s largest camel fairs, this multi-day festival begins in the Hindu month of Kartik and concludes on Kartik Purnima (the full moon night in the month of Kartik). This usually falls in October or November.
Pushkar Mela serves as a time to venerate Lord Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation. It is believed that on the day of Kartik Purnima, Lord Brahma performed a yajna (devotional offering in fire) at Pushkar. As a result of this yajna, the Pushkar Lake became so holy that even the greatest sinner could take a dip in the sacred waters and wash off all sins.
Devotees journey to Pushkar during this festival to perform Pushkar snan, or ritual bath, in the sacred Pushkar Lake. Following the bath, they often perform a parikrama, a circumambulation around the lake. Sacred offerings of rice, flowers, and lamps made from flour set on leaves are floated on the water. This ritual of offering light, known as deepdan, is seen as a prayer for the happiness and well-being of one's family. Additionally, a grand evening aarti (ritual offering light to deities) is held at the ghats, or steps leading to the Pushkar lake.
Apart from its religious significance, Pushkar Mela is renowned for the sale of various livestock, particularly camels and horses and is also one of the largest cattle fairs of the world. Several indigenous and valuable breeds are offered for sale every year. The trade of animals begins on the second day of Diwali and lasts for 15 days, culminating on the day of Kartik Purnima. The religious festivities commence on the last five days of the Mela.
The fair hosts a range of unique competitions, including the Longest Moustache, Turban Tying, Matka Phod, and Bridal Competitions. Alongside these events, musical performances, folk dances, hot air balloon rides, sports matches, and bustling handicraft bazaars (markets) are organised. Carnival rides like the Ferris wheel add to the lively, celebratory atmosphere.
A colourful extravaganza attracting both locals and tourists, the Pushkar Mela is one of the most popular fairs of India. This annual festival is a beautiful confluence of faith, culture and commerce.