Sunday, November 10, 2013

the 2013 Pushkar Camel Fair

Must be hump day! Hundreds of thousands gather in holy Indian town of Pushkar for week-long fair of camel-trading, races... and a beauty contest


  • Annual event will see as many as 20,000 camels traded, while hundreds of thousands of tourists look on
By Kieran Corcoran
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Thousands of traditional camel traders have descended on a small Indian town for a week-long festival which will see tens of thousands of animals bartered and sold.

The annual Pushkar Fair is one of the world's largest camel-trading events, held on the banks of Pushkar Lake, an area rich in Hindu tradition, filled with hundreds of temples.

The event, which began to day, will host up to 20,000 camels, which leading herders gather to trade with one another. Horses and cattle are also exchanged at the event, which has also been estimated to draw in over 200,000 tourists each year.
Tradition: Men such as the camel vendor pictured have been leading their herds to Pushkar for hundreds of years
Tradition: Men such as the camel vendor pictured have been leading their herds to Pushkar for hundreds of years
Vast: Camels fill the land around lake Pushkar as far as the eye can see
Vast: Camels fill the land around lake Pushkar as far as the eye can see
Arrival: The festival will last for a week, and will see up to 20,000 camels, horses and cattle exchanged
Arrival: The festival will last for a week, and will see up to 20,000 camels, horses and cattle exchanged
'You come here often?': The gathering, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, is considered a holy time
'You come here often?': The gathering, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, is considered a holy time
Moment of rest: Two herds sit down, surrounded by their herds of camels, which are bound together with rope
Moment of rest: Two herds sit down, surrounded by their herds of camels, which are bound together with rope

For the rest of the year Pushkar is a popular pilgrimage destination, but every autumn, in time with the Kartik Purnima full moon, the town in turned over to a festival of colour and excitement.
The camel fair is also boom time for religious devotees, and hundreds of pilgrims come at the time especially to bathe in the lake's holy waters and cleanse their sins.
 
The two days around the full moon are considered the holy waters of Pushkar's lake and be absolved of their sins. The two days around the full moon are considered to be particularly auspicious, conferring special blessings upon bathers.

As well as the pivotal buying and selling of animals, visitors to the fair can see prized animals compete against each other, either in camel races or a tongue-in-cheek beauty contest, which sees the animals shaved, groomed and adorned with trinkets in hope of winning the prize.

Visitors can also get involved with events including a wrestling competition, a bridal competition and the famous 'matka phod' contest, which rewards the man with the longest moustache.
Legging it: The annual camel race is one of the most anticipated events at the camel fair
Legging it: The annual camel race is one of the most anticipated events at the camel fair
Inspection: These camel vendors wait for buyers to come and inspect their wares
Inspection: These camel vendors wait for buyers to come and inspect their wares
Feisty one: Three herders were needed to bring this camel under control
Feisty one: Three herders were needed to bring this camel under control
Big draw: Hundreds of thousands of tourists also attend the fair to witness the spectacle
Big draw: Hundreds of thousands of tourists also attend the fair to witness the spectacle
Hitching a ride: Two tourists take one of Pushkar's many available camels for a spin
Hitching a ride: Two tourists take one of Pushkar's many available camels for a spin
Soulful: An Indian man plays a traditional instrument as the sun sets on the first evening of the fair
Soulful: An Indian man plays a traditional instrument as the sun sets on the first evening of the fair
Glammed up: This camel has been given a neck tie and a nose ornament ahead of the camel beauty contest
Glammed up: This camel has been given a neck tie and a nose ornament ahead of the camel beauty contest
Colourful: This camel salesman is also doing his part to make sure his animal excels in the contest
Colourful: This camel salesman is also doing his part to make sure his animal excels in the contest
Ready for my close-up: This camel's good looks could make its owner a tidy sum
Ready for my close-up: This camel's good looks could make its owner a tidy sum
Events: This herder may be a candidate for the camel fair's 'longest moustache' competition
Events: This herder may be a candidate for the camel fair's 'longest moustache' competition
Sleep time: These camels settle down ahead of a busy morning
Sleep time: These camels settle down ahead of a busy morning
Group huddle: These camels gather together in the fading light
Group huddle: These camels gather together in the fading light
Tea time: A herder lights a fire to cook his dinner before settling down for the night
Tea time: A herder lights a fire to cook his dinner before settling down for the night
Waiting: This camel stands tied to a tree, perhaps waiting to be sold the next morning
Waiting: This camel stands tied to a tree, perhaps waiting to be sold the next morning
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