From camel race to Mandana, from puppet show to turban contest, Pushkar’s wonders never seems to amaze us.
Rajasthan, being the hub of age-old customs, historic monuments, religious sites and plethora of rituals organizes countless fests and fairs almost every month. Considering the rich cultural diversity of India, it takes a lot for a state to stand out with its cultural heritage and Rajasthan is at its colourful best in the 7-Day Pushkar Fair. “Pushkar ka Mela“, as the natives call it, gets the highest number of buyers, investors and tourists than other local fairs. Rajasthan government puts in extra efforts to make the epic money-laundering fair, bigger and better than previous year.
Importance of Pushkar Fair for Rajasthan
Festivities at Pushkar brighten the dreary lives of villagers living near Thar desert. Promotion of local folk art and Rajasthani culture boosts trade and tourism opportunities for the state. Having said that, tourists and locals are quite excited about Pushkar fair events this year. The fair will commence on 8th November and last till 14th November 2016. Here is a brief overview of events that we expect at Pushkar fair 2016.
Pushkar Fair 2016 Schedule: 7 Happening Events That’ll Make Your Day
1) Animal Fair & Related Activities
Camel, the ‘King of Desert’, with its varied moods, carefree expressions and decked up persona is the main highlight at Pushkar fair. Flock men arrive with around 50,000 camels and abundant livestock (cow, goats, sheep and horses). Colourful, creatively-decorated animals participate in unique competitions that attract tourists from all over the world.
Stylish Animals at Display:
Day 2:
Camel Decoration Contest
Camel Dance
Day 3:
Horse Dance
Day 4:
Inauguration of Gir and Cross Breed Cattle Exhibition
Day 5:
Gir and Cross Breed Cattle Judgement Competition
Day 6:
Best Horse & Camel of the Year: Final Judgement
Day 7:
Camel Race
2) Exhibitions & Trade:
In this segment, local artisans, designers and businessmen set up stalls to exhibit vibrant accessories and decorations that carry a Rajasthani charm. Jewelleries, tattoos, apparel, decorative items and statutes by native artists have a distinct ethnic aura around them.
From bangles to jootis to Ray Ban and Gucci, just name it. Pushkar offers you almost everything.
What’s Hot?
Day 1:
Ajay Rawat’s Sand Art Display
Day 2 & 3:
Shilpgram Handicrafts Bazar (open till 8 pm)
Day 3:
Vikas Pradarshani
3) Games for Locals and Foreigners
Tourists from foreign countries arrive in bulk to participate in local events. Sports and Indian cultural competitions are great source of events for overseas participants. The rich Indian culture leaves them flabbergasted and awed.
Desi Wonders with Exotic Tadka:
Day 1:
Adventure Activities at Adventure Zone on all 6 days.
Football Match with Foreigners at Mela Ground
Day 2:
Langri Taang with Foreigners
Satolia Match
Day 3:
Panchayat Samiti rural sports at Mela Ground (Volleyball, Rassakshi etc.) Round I
Kite flying demonstration
Day 4:
Inter Panchayat Samiti rural sports at Mela Ground (Volleyball, Rassakshi etc.) Round II
Day 5:
Inter Panchayat Samiti rural sports at Mela Ground (Volleyball, Rassakshi etc.) Round III
Lagaan Style Cricket Match at Mela Ground
Day 6:
Matka Race for women
Musical Chair for women
Exhibition Kabaddi Match with Bengal Warriors
Day 7:
Matka Race
Tug Of War
4) Rajasthani Folk Art/Cultural Display
Pushkar Fair unveils Rajasthan’s royal culture to the world. Visitors get a glimpse of Rajasthan’s hugely versatile culture in the form of puppet shows, music, folk dance and live concerts. Don’t miss the opportunity to look at lively turbans, vivacious kites and intricate Mandana (ancient Rajasthani design).
Day 1:
Best of Rajasthan at Mela ground
Nagada Vaadan
Mandana Competition
Rangoli Making
Day 2:
Folk Entertainment by local artists
Day 3:
Kite Flying Demonstration
Day 4:
Odhissi Dance by Tejaswini Gautam
Day 5:
Moustache Contest
Turban Tying
Indian Dance Performance by Foreigners
Day 6:
Indian Bride & Groom Contest
Day 7:
Mega cultural event
Kala Jattha
Colourful fireworks display
5) Musical Performances by National Artists
Do you dream to see your favourite artists perform live in front of your eyes. Wait no more! The best thing about Pushkar mela is the sheer amount of participation by musical wonders. The city is full of musical talent. Just get your tickets, occupy front row and lose yourself to beautiful symphonies in the air.
Hit Numbers:
Day 1:
Advait’s Live Performance
Day 2:
Voice of Pushkar (local singing contest for young talents) Round I
Day 3:
Voice of Pushkar Round II
Prem Joshua Live
Day 4:
Irfan in a studio format
Day 5:
Harshdeep Kaur’s tribute to Reshma and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Day 6:
Roots of Pushkar (folk singing)
Day 7:
Maha aarti
6) Religious Activities
Multi-faceted Pushkar fair is a religious amalgamation of rituals and hymns. It celebrates the traditions of ancient town surrounding the Pushkar lake. Being a pilgrim site from time immemorial, the sacred lake attracts people who flock here at Shukl Ekadashi in the month of Kartik (October-November) to offer their prayers to Lord Brahma. The fair exhibits spectacular religious activities, that you just can’t miss.
Rituals Longing for Us:
Day 1:
Pooja and Flag hoisting
Maha Aarti
Pushkar Abhishek
Day 3:
Spiritual Walk from mela ground
Day 6:
Harmony Marathon from Dargah Shareef in Ajmer to Brahma Temple
Day 7:
Maha Aarti and closing ceremony
7) Desert Safari
With bright sunshine falling on golden dust brings it to life, the majestic ‘ship of desert’ sails through the sparkling panorama exuding sheer delight. Live your Arabian Nights fantasy at desert during sunshine and sunset.
Explore the Wilderness in Peace
- Sunset Camel Safaris on all days
- Hot air balloon flights on all days
With endless supply of tricks and treats emerging from Pandora’s box, Pushkar will certainly surpass its previous number of participants- 1,85,000, a jaw dropping number in itself. Rajasthan’s uniqueness and eternal call of the desert are reasons enough to visit one of the largest cultural celebration of India! Don’t miss it.
