Pushkar Camel Fair
Each month I’m sharing a favourite photo I have taken and provide you a bit of detail about it. I’ll share photos from different categories like places, florals, people, still life, food (did you really think I would leave this out?)... you get the idea. Today I’m starting with places - specifically Pushkar in India which I call ‘planet earth’s ultimate embellishment’.
Pushkar is a town in the northeastern Indian state of Rajasthan. It has a population of about 22 000 but is home to over 400 temples. That’s one temple per 55 people! Among them is Brahma temple (the only one in the world) which is dedicated to Lord Brahma, creator of the universe. The town is set on Pushkar Lake, a sacred Hindu site, and a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus. The lake is surrounded by 52 different ghats, or series of steps, which are packed during the weeks of the fair.
The obvious highlight in Pushkar is the camel mela or fair. The Pushkar Camel Mela is like no other! With over 25 000 camels exchanged, it is arguably the world's largest camel fair. The fair is situated just outside of the town centre and the whole area is transformed into a large and colourful fairground. There were rows of makeshift tents and stables and troughs and stores selling all kinds of wonderful wares from horse and camel finery to crafts and decorations, camel paper and soap and jewellery and everything else imaginable.
I took this photo in the dunes behind the main fairground in the early hours of the morning, during my 3 day visit to Pushkar Fair - before the crazy busyness of the day ahead. The golden light beautifully accentuates the colours of the camels, the herder and their raw surroundings.
October 2014
My first visit to the fairground was at pre-dawn when it was still dark. We had organised a camel cart which was expertly driven by 12 year old Kalu. The night before I met a photographer who invited a group of us to join her in the dunes behind the main fairground where most of the camels were. What an amazing experience we had. We got up-close-and-personal to these magnificent creatures and took some stunning photos. Needless to say we returned there the next morning as well.
Wondering around the fair was a treat. The camels were washed spanky clean and decked out in their finery. Silver bells and bangles dangled around their ankles and theyI jingled as they sauntered by. Their noses were pierced with ornate rings and their skin was tattooed with inks to form ceremonial patterns on their bodies. The horses too were proudly paraded around the fair. Their shiny bodies gleamed in the sunlight. Many were written at breakneck speeds along makeshift track s while the cattle and goats munched quietly, oblivious to all that was happening around them. Although the variety of animals was certainly a sight to be reckoned with, the camels ruled supreme!