Pushkar festival is very different from the traditional religious festivals that one celebrates with family and friends. Pushkar festival is a festival where you get a chance to celebrate witness and be a part of the festive spirit of Rajasthan, a state in India, which is famous, allover for the rich cultural heritage. Every year when the winter months approach in India, Pushkar festival is celebrated with all the traditional ceremonies that are part of the festivals since a very long time. There are no fixed dates to celebrate the festival, but the dates are selected following the lunar calendar like all the other Hindu festivals. The festival is held in the month of Kartik during the full moon day and traditionally it falls in the month of November. Pushkar festivals are famous all over the world and the main attraction of this festival is the huge number of foreign tourist it draws to witness the event. Anyone who has not been a part of the Pushkar festivals has definitely missed out on enjoying some of the best festivities that one can ever see. Pushkar is a wonderful place for you to go if you want to witness the spirit and celebration of festivals in India.

The Pushkar fair is synonymous to the cattle fair. So there are camels, horses, cows, goats, and sheep; all decked up to be sold and purchased. The proud cattle owners throng Pushkar, traveling across the golden sands of the various places in Rajasthan. There is bargaining, presence of several popular breeds and the parading of the well bred, highly decorated cattle. As is believed about Pushkar Fair is the world’s largest camel fair.

Pushkar is one of the sacred places for the Hindus, with 400 temples of which the most important is dedicated to Lord Brahma - the creator of the universe. Fifty-two ghats bind the lake. People consider the water of the Pushkar Lake to be very sacred and the ritual of taking dips in the holy water is believed to bestow salvation. The holy dip is most auspicious on Kartik Poornima. Even before sunrise, people descend the ghats, aided by the 'pandas' (Brahmin priests) to take the sacred bath. Offerings of coconut, flowers, and cash are made to the lake and the priests.

Brahma temple is situated at Pushkar in Rajasthan, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Brahma and is said to be the only existing temple dedicated to Lord Brahama in India. This temple, built with marble, is decorated with silver coins, and there is a silver turtle on the floor of the temple. Legend also has it that the ancient lake Sarovar had appeared miraculously, when a lotus fell from the hands of Lord Brahma and dropped into the this valley. The image of Brahma Ji in Pushkar is in a seated Palthi position. It is said that Lord Brahma's lotus flower fell in three separate places in the Pushkar area.

It is customary to float lighted earthen lamps after placing them on 'pattals' (plates made of leaves) on the waters of the lake. This creates a spectacular view in the evening when the sacred lake takes on a mystical tint sprinkled with twinkling spots of light. 'Aarti' is offered at the lake in the morning and evening.

Talking about Pushkar Fair the most striking feature is the cattle competition. Imagine the entire limelight on beautifully decorated cattle when they race their ways into the audiences’ heart or the manner in which they play musical chairs. The Pushkar Fair watches the best-bedecked camel in parade winning the beauty contest. But the most hilarious competition of all makes large numbers of people sit on the camels back and usually fall down! Of course! The camel that accommodates the maximum number of people on its back wins the competition.

The colorful culture of Rajasthan comes alive in the form of the folklores, music and dance performances besides the captivating turbans of the men. The bards and the poets enchant the audiences with the tales of courage. Cultural shows, exhibitions and movies add to the fun at the Pushkar Fair.

During the Pushkar Fair the numerous make shift stalls offer a variety of items for the cattle and humans. For cattle there are items ranging from saddles, saddle-straps and beads to strings of cowries. With so many women around at the Pushkar Fair can the jewellery and the garment stalls be far! Check out the colorfully clad women buying silver ornaments, bead necklaces from Nagaur and garments of patchwork, printed textiles from Ajmer and tie 'n' die. That is not the end of fashion at the Pushkar Fair; there are beautiful body tattoos that you can get made as per your choice!