#camel fair

"Camel Fair"

Arne Strømme (Norway)

Every year in the mystical town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, a unique and colorful event takes place that captures the spirit of India like no other—the Pushkar Camel Fair. Held in the Hindu month of Kartik (usually October or November), this world-famous fair is a vibrant blend of tradition, culture, trade, and festivity. It transforms this quiet pilgrimage town into a buzzing carnival of camels, cattle, competitions, and colors.

What Is the Pushkar Camel Fair?

The Pushkar Camel Fair, locally known as Pushkar Mela, is primarily a livestock trading event where thousands of camels, horses, and cattle are bought and sold. But over the years, it has evolved into a massive cultural festival that includes folk music, dance performances, spiritual rituals, craft bazaars, and quirky competitions like the longest mustache contest or turban tying.

The fair lasts for around 7–9 days, peaking on Kartik Purnima, a full moon day considered spiritually significant in Hinduism. Devotees also come to bathe in the holy Pushkar Lake during this time, believing it will wash away sins and bring blessings.

Highlights of the Fair

1. The Camel Parade & Livestock Bazaar

Watch in awe as herders from across Rajasthan arrive with elaborately decorated camels and horses. You’ll see camels dressed in bright textiles, beads, and bells being paraded, groomed, traded, and even entered into beauty contests! The animal trading ground, set against the dunes, makes for a truly picturesque and otherworldly experience.

2. Folk Music and Cultural Shows

Every evening, local musicians and dancers put on traditional Rajasthani performances that tell stories of valor, love, and folklore. From Kalbelia dancers swirling to dholak beats to soulful desert songs under the stars, these shows add magic to your evenings.

3. Exciting Competitions

Expect bizarre and hilarious competitions like:

Longest Mustache Contest

Turban Tying Competition

Camel Dance Performances

Matka (Pot) Race for Women

These events invite participation and adventure like Pushkar Desert Jeep Safari also bring smiles to locals and travelers alike.

4. Spiritual Ceremonies

During Kartik Purnima, thousands gather at Pushkar Lake to take a holy dip and perform rituals. Temples are beautifully lit, and the spiritual energy is palpable. Don’t miss the aarti (prayer) at the lake, especially at sunset.

What to Eat and Buy

Food: Pushkar is a vegetarian town, but the local Rajasthani food is mouth-watering. Try traditional dishes like dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi, malpua, and fresh lassi from street vendors or cafés.

Shopping: The fairground bazaar is a treasure trove for handmade crafts:

Embroidered textiles

Silver jewelry

Camel leather goods

Hand-painted souvenirs

Remember to bargain respectfully—it's part of the experience!

Travel Tips for the Pushkar Camel Fair

Book accommodation in advance – Pushkar gets crowded during the fair. Choose from heritage havelis, desert camps, or Affordable Accommodation in Pushkar.

Dress modestly – Respect local customs, especially at temples and ghats.

Stay hydrated – Rajasthan can be hot during the day even in winter.

Bring a camera – The fair is a dream for photographers!

When and How to Get There

Dates: The fair usually falls in late October or early November. Check the Hindu lunar calendar for exact dates.

Nearest airport: Jaipur (150 km).

By train: Reach Ajmer, then take a taxi or bus to Pushkar (30 minutes).

Local transport: Auto-rickshaws and camel carts are available, but much of Pushkar is walkable.

Final Thoughts

The Pushkar Camel Fair is more than just an animal trading event—it's a window into the soul of rural Rajasthan. From its bustling bazaars and spiritual rituals to its desert sunsets and festive energy, this fair offers travelers a rare opportunity to witness India's diverse heritage in one immersive celebration.

Pushkar is famous for the holy lake of Pushkar and Brahma Temple. But the Pushkar Camel Festival attracts lakhs of pilgrims, travellers, tourists and photographers from all over the world. The Pushkar Fair, also known as Pushkar Camel Fair or Karthik Mela, is one of the largest camel fairs in the world held in Pushkar in Rajasthan. Pushkar Mela is held every year from Karthik Ekadashi to Karthik Poornima (generally in November).

This 100-year-old Camel festival reflects the vibrant culture of Rajasthan through gorgeous events and activities. You will be amazed after knowing the versatility of this festival. Starting from the famous trading of camel, horse, buffalo to the various cultural events & competitions like Matkaphod, moustache competition, bridal competition, camel race, cultural evening, turban tying and the list is never-ending.

Places to Visit in Pushkar (Pushkar Sightseeing)

Pushkar Lake: Pushkar lake is 2km away from the bus stand. One can take a walk through the ghats of holy Pushkar lake and enjoy the beauty.

Brahma Temple: This temple in Pushkar is one of the very few existing temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. This temple is nicely built with white marble and stone slabs.

Top attractions of the Pushkar Fair:

This week-long fair is literally different in flavour from other fairs of India. Here is a brief guide for the top attractions of Pushkar Fair.

1. Harmony marathon: Pushkar Fair is started with a harmony marathon from Dargah Shareef in Ajmer to Brahma Temple in Pushkar. Thousands of people take part, and you can also be a part of it.

2. Trading of livestock: The age-old relation and interdependence between humans and livestock can be experienced in this fair where the locals gather to buy sell their livestock (camels, horses, cows, buffalos etc.).

3. Shilpgram Bazar: If you are fascinated by traditional handicrafts, then this place will surely attract you. Traditionally handcrafted jewellery, colourful paintings, Rajasthani puppets, embroidered fabrics, bangles, decorative items, bags and many more things you can take and have lifelong memory.

4. Enjoy the Adventure: Are you an adventurous person; well, this Pushkar festival won’t leave you empty-handed. One of the most thrilling activities in Pushkar Fair is the hot balloon ride, and one can experience an amazing aerial view of the whole place. Paramotoring, quad biking, camel safari can also give you a thrill.

5. Photography contest: If you are passionate about photography, then Pushkar Fair is heaven for you. This fair is also known as a fair for the photographers. Thousands of photographers around the world come to capture the vibrant colour of this festival. Pushkar Fair offers a great way to capture the rural life of Rajasthan. This is an excellent time for anyone to witness the culture, people, traditions, rituals of the real Rajasthan. You can participate in ‘Frame The Fair’ photography contest organized by Rajasthan Tourism and show your photography skill to others.

6. Exciting events: Events and competitions like moustache competition, bridal competition, Matka race, turban tying, camel race, and a long list of events occur throughout Pushkar Fair. The exciting thing is that you can also participate and make memories apart from just watching these events.

How to reach:

1. Pushkar is located 12 km from Ajmer and 140 km from Jaipur by road.

2. Ajmer is the nearest railway station and well connected with all the major cities of India.

3. Jaipur is the nearest airport that connects all the major cities of India.

Best time to visit:

1. Pushkar Fair is held from Karthik Ekadashi to Karthik Poornima (generally in November).

2. If you want to visit Pushkar, then you can travel at any time. But try to avoid the summer season.

An acclaimed town in the state of Rajasthan, Pushkar is nestled near to Ajmer and is hugely popular for having in its trove the famous Brahma Temple. The Pushkar Fair is a grandeur and unique festival, exhibiting an annual camel and livestock fair. Celebrated in the months of October and November, the fair witnesses tourists in abounding numbers who travel to Pushkar to experience the beauty of its affair.

If you are still not sure about the Pushkar experience, we have listed below the eight prominent reasons why you should visit the Pushkar Fair, at least once in your lifetime! Have a look!

For a surreal feel of floating high above the crowd in a hot air balloon

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Soar high above the sky in a hot air balloon and witness the vibrant attractions of the Fair from a bird’s eye view. The colorful camps in between the countless live-stock looks stunning as you rise higher, leaving behind the mammoth crowd behind

For an exquisite view of the world’s largest livestock fair! 

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Being the largest livestock fair in the world, the fair at Pushkar is in real sense one of the biggest prides of the nation!  Herders and nomads in plenty, gather at Pushkar for the purchase and sale of livestock. A must visit spectacle in Rajasthan-this fair showcases the tradition of camel trading, existing in the state of Rajasthan, since time immemorial.

For enjoying a camel safari on beautifully adorned camels

Camels and Deserts make way for a perfect ride! While attending the Pushkar Mela, you do not have to merely sit and enjoy the live stocks being sold; you can also opt for a bumpy ride on the backs of the camels across the sandy deserts of Rajasthan. Enthralling, isn’t it?

Relevant tours : Rajasthan tour package

For savoring the best of Rajasthani cuisine

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A trip to Rajasthan is incomplete without digging into the flavors of lip-smacking Rajasthani cuisine. A paradise for the food lovers, the fair of Pushkar offers plentiful choices to relish upon! From the traditional Dal-Bhati Churma to Malpua or the other famous cuisines of the nation; the place seems to have it all!

For a delightful stay in the Tented Accommodations

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Staying in the tented accommodations at the Pushkar Fair is an altogether a different experience in itself.  You can experience the fun-filled activities of the fair and then have a comfortable stay in the luxury tents that are embedded with all the modern amenities for an exquisite accommodating experience at Pushkar.

For a hearty shopping experience:

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The Fair is an absolute delight for the shopaholics. If you aren’t a mall-rat and love to shop on the streets instead, this could be the best place for you in Rajasthan. Beautifully adorned Rajasthani dresses, handmade bags, and exquisite souvenirs: there’s a lot to shop in the Pushkar Fair and a lot for each and every one to look forward to!

For enjoying a free performance by the best of fusion bands:

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Music and Dance permeates in the surroundings of Pushkar. Enjoy a foot tapping performance by the world famous fusion bands and that too for free! Witness the finest performance beside a bonfire, lit underneath the well-illuminated sky and watch the desert come to life!

For witnessing some of the unique competitions, held in the world

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Yes, you heard that right! Matka Phod, Longest Moustache, turban tying, tug-of-war and the Bridal Competitions are some of the definite charms, held nowhere but in the Pushkar Fair. The out of the box competitions of the town have gained immense popularity and have attracted myriads of tourists to witness the exclusiveness.

Held on the banks of the pictorial lake in Pushkar, the fair attracts tourists from far and wide. An astounding 25000 camel converges in the small town, all beautifully trimmed and adorned to enter into beauty competitions, race contests and also to be used for trading purposes.

For booking your trip, click here