Place : Pushkar, Rajasthan
Month : November
Significance: Believed to be the largest cattle trade fair in the world and coincides with a Hindu religious celebration

This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually during October- November. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in  their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad. 

Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. Necklaces of glass beads from Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur and Ajmer are all on sale here. Farmers, cattle traders and breeders buy and sell their animals, leather whips, saddles etc.  There are facilities for camel rides also. 

This livestock fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration. Pushkar is among the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. It has a large number of temples including one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in India. Hundreds of thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy Pushkar lake on the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika month) and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir). It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator, wished to perform a 'yagna' following his long years of penance. During his sojourn  in search of a place for yagna, Brahma dropped a lotus from heaven which created the lake Pushkar. It was on the Karthika night that a drop of nectar fell in this lake, thereby making it sacred. Pilgrims flock from all over India to be in Pushkar at this  auspicious time. They also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present at Pushkar Lake during the occasion.

The trading which involves a great deal of bargaining between the cattle traders and the buyers add to the spirit of the fair. Apart from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The variety of folk dances, dramas and songs lend colour and melody to the atmosphere that is already charged with excitement of the camel races and the cattle fair. The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation has taken adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the fair site and to accommodate the fairgoers.  

Accommodation: 

There are basic accommodation in hotels with tariffs ranging from US $50 to US $200 in Pushkar. Early booking is recommended as tariffs increase at short notice. There are also luxury tents with comforts like private showers, running water and other such amenities, priced between US$ 80 to US$ 125 ( for double occupancy, including 3 meals a day) depending upon the quality of facilities provided and can be booked on shorter notice.

Contact 
Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation
Ph: 0141-2202353
E-mail : rtdcjpr@sancharnet.in

How to reach there 

Air: The nearest airport is at Jaipur 138-km from Pushkar. Pushkar is 375 km from Delhi.

Rail: The nearest railhead Ajmer is 11-km from Pushkar. There are trains to Delhi, Agra Ahmedabad (526km), Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Two of the train services which connect Ajmer to Delhi and Jaipur are the Shatabdi Express and Pink City Express.

Road: Pushkar is well connected by road to major cities in Rajasthan. The two bus stands are Marwar bus stand near the post office and Ajmer bus stand from where there are regular buses to Ajmer (every hour from 6am to 10 pm) , Jaipur, Jaisalmer (490km), Bikaner (233km).