I'm back yet again from a short and awesome trip to Pushkar in Rajasthan. The annual fair which is primarily an occasion to trade cattle is held a week in advance of the first full moon day in the hindu month of Kartik that falls usually in first week of November.
The name Pushkar comes from an old legend that goes like this...Lord Bhrama (worshipped as the Creator, in hindu mythological belief of trinity of Creator- Preserver- Destroyer : Bhrama-Vishnu- Mahesh) was looking for a place to perform a yagna in his vahana and accidentally the lotus (पुष्प or Pushp in hindi) from his hand fell on earth and at that very point water sprung out forming a lake. There's more to this story but I'd leave for you to find that out once you visit this place.
Bookings in advance for stay are an absolute must around the festival as it is nearly impossible to get a room otherwise.
Like life in an small city in India, mornings begin early and they are lovely here so even if you are a night person you'd rather not miss these. Sitting by the ghats and getting washed in the serene blue hues of the lake is the best take away from here.
In contrast are the striking hues of the mela which is a colour riot.
The streets are a shopper's delight..locale or urban alike.
All cattle is traded and gone away during the first few days of the fair itself.
Flocked by thousands of tourists from all around the world every year, Pushkar is equipped to provide all that one would require!
Time standing still, the colour, life and energy-around the mela and otherwise, makes me want to go back always to the narrow lanes of the lake city of Pushkar.
