Pushkar Camel Fair-Rajasthan

Camel taxi-we rode around the fair in it to get oriented. How could we resist?

 These are scenes from our once-in-a-lifetime visit to the Pushkar Fair where we spent two days, which was plenty! We rode southwest across India in a train for 6 hours, then "camped" in a big white Swiss tent with a flush toilet, real beds, electricity and ac. We ate under a tent with other tourists from Germany and the UK. At night the Royal Heritage Safari lit a campfire and brought in musicians, dancers and fire eaters.

Driving camels to market

Musician at our Royal Heritage camp site-we saw men dressed like this everywhere.

Tightrope walker with mother and babe spotting.

Scott and  I rode this camel. The infant beside Christy held the reins. He claimed to be 15 years old.

Riding the camel was a terrifying adventure. Its legs are about eight feet long and when he/she stood on his back legs we had to hold on tight and lean back like a rodeo or slide onto his head. Then up onto the front legs and a wobbly gait around the fair into the sunset. We talked to a man about riding our camel but once we were up he handed the reins to this child! The boy acted as if he's been leading camels around since he learned to walk. He probably has! We have no picture of Danny and Christy riding their camel since Scott and I were focused on staying on our own beast.

At the fair we saw three giant ferris wheels  and many expat tourists. The constant press of hawkers holding their trinkets in our faces and beggars clutching our arms and the crush of people was exhausting. We missed the snake charmers and the camel races and the moustache contest. If you're bored check out the Pushkar Fair 2016 on google images. That's what we experienced with all five senses.

Google images: this was typical dress for the Indian women at the fair.

Long ago Brahma, the creator, dropped some flower petals in Pushkar and a holy lake formed. Perhaps the  most dramatic part of the fair was watching thousands of Hindu pilgrims walk down to the lake and wash or take a dip for remission of their sins. Nearly every woman was draped head to toe in flowing red, hot pink, orange or yellow fabric. Men wore white with a turban or western clothing. No photography allowed.

Here's one more from google images that I can't resist.

Wow. They tuck these up into the turban.