Key Facts

  • Location: Pushkar, Ajmer District, Rajasthan, situated on the edge of the Thar Desert.
  • Duration & Timing: Commences annually in the Hindu month of Kartik, culminating on the holy day of Kartik Purnima.
  • Major Highlights: Trading of over 25,000 camels, horses, and cattle; cultural competitions (turban tying, matka phod); and traditional Rajasthani folk music performances.
  • Ecological & Pastoral Dimension: Serves as a vital lifeline for indigenous pastoralist communities such as the Raika and Rebari camel herders.

GK Context & Spiritual Significance

  • Jagatpita Brahma Temple: Pushkar houses one of the very few prominent, ancient temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in the world, believed to date back to the 14th century.
  • Pushkar Lake (Sarovar): A sacred semi-circular lake with 52 ghats where pilgrims take a holy dip during Kartik Purnima to attain spiritual liberation.

Static GK Linkages

  • State Animal: The Camel (Camelus dromedarius - single-humped camel) was declared Rajasthan's State Animal (Livestock category) in 2014 under the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015.
  • National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC): Located in Bikaner, Rajasthan, established under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).