Rajasthan's Iconic Pushkar Fair: Where Tradition, Tourism and Trade Converge

The best-dressed camel competition stands as a major attraction for both traders and tourists at the fair.

Rajasthan's renowned annual Pushkar Fair commenced in Ajmer on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a three-week celebration scheduled to continue until November 7. This prestigious event, considered one of the state's most significant tourism attractions, features extensive trading of camels, horses, and various cattle.

The festivities began with the inauguration of a temporary animal husbandry department office. Speaking to NDTV, Dr. Sunil Ghiya, joint director of the department, explained, "We're establishing checkpoints along routes used by animals entering the fair. All livestock will undergo registration, veterinary examination, and tagging. These precautions are essential as large numbers of animals gather, creating potential risks for communicable diseases."

"We're also digitizing all records, particularly for camels, cows, buffaloes, and horses, which constitute the primary livestock at the fair. Our department officials and veterinarians will maintain round-the-clock availability throughout the event," Dr. Ghiya added.

The Pushkar Fair features various competitive categories for animals, including awards for superior milk production and exceptional horse breeds. Gir cows, now famous for their A2 protein milk, participate in specialized competitions.

While the elaborately decorated camel show attracts substantial interest from both commercial traders and visitors, the traditional Nagaur Bull competition continues to gather enthusiastic crowds.

Guru Prasad Tanwar, sub-divisional officer at the Pushkar SDM office, detailed special arrangements for managing attendance. He noted the elimination of preferential treatment, with fair entry operating strictly on first-come, first-served principles.

"Seating will be allocated based on arrival order. All duty personnel have received crowd management training to prevent incidents. We've deployed additional security forces and CCTV surveillance throughout the fairgrounds," he informed NDTV.

"All departments will maintain close coordination with the mela magistrate's office, forest department, police, district administration, and electricity department. The superintendent of police and additional district magistrate are overseeing preparations for cultural programs," Tanwar continued.

Manoj Ramlani from the Karu Bhai Horse Camp reported that horse traders from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh have begun arriving at Pushkar.

"Marwari horses are particularly sought after for their regal appearance. Their pricing depends on lineage, training, and demonstrated qualities. At the Pushkar fair, horses can command prices ranging from lakhs to crores of rupees," Ramlani explained.

For tourists, the fair offers numerous traditional attractions, including the matka race, bridal competitions for international visitors, and the famous contest for the longest and most lustrous moustache.

The fair's timing holds religious significance in the Hindu calendar, coinciding with Kartik Purnima. Ritual bathing in the sacred Pushkar Lake during this period is believed to confer spiritual blessings.