"Namaste" replied me as I pressed my hands together across my chest.
I entered Pushkar, one of India's most ancient cities located in Ajmer district, Rajahstan. The view of the city is not much different from any other small town in India I've ever visited; houses of clay, dusty streets, and many cows on the streets. In addition, along the city road I found many people herding camels.
Although my body is a little tired after traveling nearly four hours from Jaipur City, the lively annual festival in this city makes me excited.
The city of Pushkar is not too big. The city surrounds a sacred lake of Hindus, Pushkar Lake or Pushkar Sharovar. This lake is believed to emerge because God Brahma dropped lotus leaves to the earth. It covers about 22 hectares and has 52 ghats - a term to refer to new neighbors.
Pushkar is one of five sites that must be visited by Hindus in India, at least once in a lifetime. No wonder, if every year - especially during the full moon around October or November, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from blue temples praying on the shore of the lake. When the full moon is believed Lord Brahma popping up in the lake so pilgrims swim in their sacred waters.
I deliberately chose a hotel not far from Pushkar Lake, so I could more closely watch the activities of pilgrims or travelers. Unfortunately, there is a prohibition to photograph in the lake area, because the pilgrims of men or women who bathed generally naked.
After getting the hotel room and preparing the camera, I immediately walked to the location of the festival that will be held the next day. I familiarize myself with the atmosphere around me, watching the streets, interesting corners, to where to eat or just getting tired.
Around the lake is full of taverns and restaurants that have a direct view of the lake. Finally, I have a favorite location to mengaso while drinking a cup of coffee. From this tavern, I can see thousands of people praying, it is an incredible doom.
Aside from being a pilgrimage city, no less interesting than this town is Pushkar Camel Fair - locals call it Pushkar Mela. The humped animal market is titled every year in October or November for five consecutive days.
This is how the world's largest camel exhibition, where camel traders or ranchers from across India come to trade.
The location of this Pushkar Mela celebration in a large desert area, located not far from the holy lake. In the desert, I can see thousands of camels with their owners. They chatted all day, from morning till night.
The owners of camels set up tents for the night during the festival. They have filled the edge of this desert since a few days ago. Not far from the tents of the camel merchants, I came across a large, long-sized tub made especially for the place to drink their camels. Generally, camel merchants walk with cattle from a town or village hundreds of kilometers away from Pushkar.
I crossed the bustling main street of a merchant selling a variety of souvenirs, prayer kits, food, clothing and other trinkets.
On the street were thousands of people , also the cows that are considered sacred by Hindus. The animal is milling about on the streets, mixed with humans. Locals dressed in traditional Indian colorful. I also encountered many shadi, such as fortune-tellers or Hindu saints. Tomorrow this street will be full of people with adiwarna
It was late afternoon when I arrived at the tents area of the camel merchants. There are thousands of camels in the desert. They look pretty busy. Some traders still take the camel's feathers and clean the camel's teeth to raise the prices of their camels.
In front of the tents overnight there is a small fireplace equipped with simple cooking utensils. Some of the residents are busy cooking for dinner. I look at their kitchen for a moment. Apparently, they cook japati, a typical Indian bread. Some of them also cook cha, that is india tea.
If the night before, the desert weather more cold. Temperatures ranged from 10 degrees, very different from the daytime that can reach 25 degrees Celsius. At night, the activities of these camel traders are filled with chats and gathering around the fireplace.
Without breakfast I have walked to the edge of the lake and continue to the main road to the stadium where the festival is opened. I plan to enjoy cha at the tavern around the lake. Kebetuklan my stomach tolerably accept many types of food this country.
The clock is six o'clock in the morning. As I thought, the streets have been busy since morning. The pilgrims came together, even beginning to squeeze into the temple on the shore of Pushkar lake.
Not far from the desert area there is a wahan like "Dunia Fantasi". There is a game like a wheel of a cloister, but with a rough condition. There are also other entertainment games that crowded visitors. Surely this entertainment will turn into like a night market.
At exactly nine o'clock in the morning I was in the stadium area where the festival was officially opened by the local authorities. Hundreds of school children dressed in traditional Indian colors. They danced drum beats and Indian music.
At the corner stage of the stadium, I witnessed several large-bodied men with long, circular mustaches. They show off their mustaches to the longest mustaches jury contest this year. In the rest of the crowd, several camels with jockeys on the hump prepare to race against camel racing events.
The festival was held in Pushkar for five days. I so enjoy every second of my journey to the end.
A million words is not enough to describe the ambiance and uniqueness of Pushkar city and its festivals. If you have ever heard the term Incredible India, I am sure that one of those places is Pushkar. Dust, camels and festive festivities will always call this heart to return there.
Author - Dodi Sandradi
In the National Geographic Traveler Edition of September 2017
About the Author
Sleek Theme is officially developed by Templatezy Team. We published High quality Blogger Templates with Awesome Design for blogspot lovers.The very first Blogger Templates Company where you will find Responsive Design Templates.
SHARE US →