Rajasthan's Pushkar Fair is held annually in November and is an event you should definitely include on your visit to India. Having grown up in the rural surrounds of New Zealand and attending many A&P shows, I thought I knew all about showcasing your prized animals and livestock sales. The Pushkar Fair is India’s equivalent of an A&P Show and it left me totally gob smacked!
Growing up, I always looked forward to our annual local show held in Rotherham. My grandmother often won prizes for her baking and flower arrangements, one year I rode my pony in the show jumping (badly I might add), farming friends proudly showcased their prized bulls and rams, parading them around the ring. Meanwhile, our parents enjoyed catching up with friends over a cuppa or a pint, while we ran wild with our mates. As we got older, we attended the much-anticipated Show Dance/Disco where many moves were made, in more ways than one! Those memories are forever etched in my mind, much like my unforgettable visits to Pushkar. There are some similarities between my local show and Pushkar but Rotherham pales in comparison to this colourful, crazy celebration!
Rajasthanis also bring their families to the fair, traveling from near and far—on the backs of trucks and tractors, in carts, on foot, and on camels and horses. They set up camp in the desert surrounding the fairgrounds, creating makeshift homes with blankets and tarpaulins. Cooking takes place over an open fire, while bathing happens in communal areas or with a quick splash at the animal trough.
Women dress in vibrant saris, adorned in sparkly traditional jewellery, their brightness a colourful juxtaposition to backdrop of the desert.
Men with superbly preened moustaches, dressed in baggy white dhotis, sit on their hunches in groups, puffing out great plumes of smoke from their pipes, a pot of tea continually brewing on the fire at their feet, their camels hobbled closed by.
Kids run amuck, playing hide’n’seek around the camps, getting dirty, having fun, getting told off, selling trinkets – their beautiful smiles charming many a tourist.
There are competitions for turban tying, best mostauche, traditional folk dancing, camel dancing and much more. Check out the schedule and plan your day to take in some of these events.
The sale of camels is mostly by private transaction, with huddles of men haggling prices. For photographers, it's a dream to capture a herd of camels silhouetted against the desert at dawn or dusk. You’ll see them rushing to find the perfect vantage point, massive cameras hanging around their necks, crouching in the sand as the camels are herded past. You’ll likely find yourself doing the same thing!
The horse sales are an entirely different spectacle—if you thought the Karaka bloodstock sales in Auckland were impressive, wait until you experience Pushkar! Rajasthan is renowned for its Marwari horses, a rare breed with distinctive inward-curving ears. A white Marwari stallion can fetch a high price, making them sought after especially for Indian weddings. Studs are set up in elaborate tents, complete with seating areas for negotiations. People scatter in all directions as horses are showcased by prancing or cantering down the road accompanied by loud music. And if you spot a crowd of men with their mobile phones raised high around a stud tent, it’s likely they’re watching a stallion service a mare!
The town of Pushkar is an energetic mass of humanity. Hordes of local visitors and tourists shuffle shoulder to shoulder down the brightly garlanded streets. Sales of jewellery and clothing are popular, chai shops are bustling, and touts are doing a roaring trade. Tourists are mostly looking on in wonder, heads swiveling non-stop!
It's the Hindu lunar month of Kartika and thousands of pilgrims have arrived to bathe in the scared waters of Pushkar Lake. Our group finds a spot on the steps of the lake, where we watch in awe and receive blessings, emerging with dots on our foreheads and a deep sense of wonder.
We stay in luxurious tents set up in the sand just a few kilometers from the fairgrounds. After a long day at the fair, a tasty buffet meal awaits us in the dining tent, followed by entertainment from Kalbelia gypsies, and a nightcap around the fire, soaking in the beauty of the sparkling stars above. Our tents have comfortable beds with crisp white sheets, a flush toilet, and a hot shower to wash off the sand - bliss!
If you’re interested in joining a small group tour of women taking in the Pushkar Fair and other incredible Indian sights, get in early as we only take 12 guests. Our next adventure is 18 Oct 2025. Check out the details here
www.roamtraveladventures.com/women-only-escorted-tours/#India
Roam Travel Adventures can also tailor an itinerary for yourself or your own group of friends/family. Email your request to hello@roamtraveladventures.com