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The Pushkar Fair, or Pushkar ka Mela, is the world's
largest camel fair held in the holy town of Pushkar
in the state of Rajasthan, India. The Pushkar fair
is indubitably the world's largest camel fair (and
indeed, world's largest cattle fair in general).
Competitions such as the "matka phod", "moustache",
and "bridal competition" are the main draws for this
fair which attracts thousands of tourists.
Pushkar is a town in the state of Rajasthan in
India. Pushkar means born due to flower. In Hindu
mythology, It is said that gods released a swan with
lotus in it's beak and let it fall on earth where
Brahma would perform a grand yagna. The place where
lotus fell was so called Pushkar. It is situated 14
Km from Ajmer and is one of the five sacred dhams,
pilgrimage sites for devout Hindus; it is often
called "Tirth Raj" (the king of pilgrimage sites).
In recent years it has become a popular destination
for foreign tourists.
Thousands of people go to the banks of the Pushkar
Lake where the fair takes place. Men buy and sell
their livestock, which includes camels, cows, sheep
and goats. The women go to the stalls, full of
bracelets, clothes, textiles and fabrics. A camel
race starts off the festival, with music, songs and
exhibitions to follow. Between these events, the
most waited for is the test of how the camel is able
to bring the items. In order to demonstrate, the men
go up on the group of camels one after another.
It is celebrated on the day Kartik Purnima (night of
the full moon), the day, according to legend, which
the Hindu god Brahma sprung up the lake, thus
numerous people swim in the sacred water.
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