Breeds of Pushkar Fair
A desert pilgrim town whose autumn fair, held in the days before Kartik Purnima, brings camels, horses and cattle to the dunes.
Breeds of this place
Best time: October or November, in the week before Kartik Purnima.
Pushkar sits around a small sacred lake on the edge of the Thar desert, a short drive over the hills from Ajmer. For a few weeks each year, in the lunar month of Kartik, herders and traders camp on the sand west of town. Camels draw the crowds and the cameras, but cattle have always been part of the trade, alongside horses, and the pilgrims who come to bathe at the full moon.
The fair
The Pushkar fair ends at Kartik Purnima, the full moon of October or November, when pilgrims bathe at the ghats around the lake. In the days before, the livestock grounds fill with tents, carts and animals. Bullocks and cows are bought and sold by herders from across Rajasthan, and the state's animal husbandry department runs shows and competitions. Alongside the trade there are races, folk music, and stalls selling bells, ropes, saddles and decorated halters.
Cattle of the region
Rajasthan's desert and semi-desert districts are home to several zebu breeds, each suited to heat and scarce fodder. The Gir, brought into the Ajmer country long ago, is known here as Ajmera. Nagori bullocks from the north are prized for fast road work, while Rathi and Tharparkar cows are valued for milk on thin desert grazing. Fewer bullocks are needed for ploughing than a generation ago, and much of the cattle trade has moved to other fairs.
A trail idea for Pushkar Fair
- Pushkar Lake and the ghats The sacred lake at the heart of the town, where pilgrims bathe at the full moon.
- Brahma Temple One of very few temples in India dedicated to Brahma.
- The fair grounds Walk among the herders' camps early in the morning, when the trading is busiest.
- Savitri Temple hill A climb at dawn for a view over the lake, the town and the camps on the sand.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Pushkar Fair" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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