Pushkaris a temple town nearAjmer Cityand headquarters of Pushkar tehsil in theAjmer districtin theIndianstateofRajasthan.It is situated about 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest ofAjmerand about 150 kilometres (93 mi) southwest ofJaipur.[1]It is a pilgrimage site forHindusandSikhs.Pushkar has many temples. Most of the temples and ghats in Pushkar are from the 18th century and later, because many temples were destroyed during Muslim conquests in the area.[1][2]Subsequently, the destroyed temples were rebuilt. The most famous among Pushkar temples is the red spiredBrahma Temple.It is considered a sacred city by the Hindus particularly inShaktism,[1][3]and meat and eggs consumption are forbidden in the city as are alcohol and drugs.[4]Pushkar is located on the shore ofPushkar Lake,which has manyghatswhere pilgrims bathe.[3]Pushkar is also significant for its Gurdwaras forGuru NanakandGuru Gobind Singh.One of the bathing ghats is called Gobind ghat built by the Sikhs in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh.[5]
Pushkar | |
|---|---|
 Pushkar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan aerial view | |
| Nickname: Tirthraj Pushkar तीर्थराज पुष्कर | |
  Pushkar Location in Rajasthan,India  Pushkar Pushkar (India) | |
| Coordinates:26°29′16″N74°33′21″E/ 26.487652°N 74.555922°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Ajmer |
| Elevation | 510 m (1,670 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 21,626[1] |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi,Rajasthani |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30(IST) |
Pushkar is famous for its annual fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) featuring a trading fete of cattle, horses and camels.[1]It is held over seven days in autumn marking Kartika Purnima according to theHindu calendar(Kartik (month),October or November). It attracts nearly 200,000 people.[3]In 1998, Pushkar hosted about 1 million domestic (95%) and international tourists over the year.[6]
Pushkar town is famous for its lake known as Pushkar Lake. The lake has 52 ghats. About 400 blue-colored temples surround the holy lake. It makes the atmosphere more spiritual and divine as one can listen to magical chants from temples.[7]
Etymology
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In Sanskrit,pushkara(पुष्कर) means "blue lotus flower."[3][8]
Location
editPushkar is in centre-east part of Rajasthan, on the western side of Aravalli mountains. The nearest airport from Pushkar isKishangarh AirportinKishangarh,about 45 km (28 mi) northeast. Pushkar is about 10 km (6.2 mi) fromAjmer,connected via Pushkar road (Highway 58) which goes over theAravalli Rangemountains. Ajmer is also the nearest major railway station.[9]
Man Mahal
editRaja Ram Singh constructed the grand mansion, which serves as the guest house and is one of the most visited spots in Pushkar.Man Mahal[10]is famous for its Rajasthani architectural style which represents the royal period.
Legend
editPushkar is believed to be the place whereBrahmaperformed penance for a very long time and therefore is also one of the rare places which hosts a temple to theHinducreator god. According to thePadma Purana,once Brahma decided to go to the earth and reaching the area of the present Pushkar, he entered that forest, full of many trees and creepers, adorned with many flowers, filled with the notes of many birds, crowded with groups of many beasts. Brahma was very pleased with the forests and trees and after remaining at Pushkar for a thousand years he threw a lotus on the ground which made the earth tremble to its core. Thedevaswere also shaken and not knowing what had caused the upheaval, went to look for Brahma but could not find him.Vishnutold[11]them the reason for the tremors and took them to Pushkar to meet Brahma. However they could not get a glimpse of him andVayuandBrihaspatisuggested them to meditate according toVedicrites to be able to see Brahma. After a long time the creator-god became visible to them and asked them why they were so distressed. The devas told him about the tumult caused by his dropping the lotus from his hand and asked the reason for it. Brahma informed them that a demon named Vajranabha who used to take away the life of children was waiting there to kill the gods but Brahma brought about his destruction by dropping the lotus. Since he had dropped the lotus there, therefore that place would be known as Pushkara, a great, sanctifying holy place, giving religious merit.[12]
History
editPushkar is near some of the oldest geological structures in India.Microlithsnear Khera and Kaderi suggest the region was settled in ancient times. The Aravalli hills near it have yieldedMohenjodaro-style artifacts, but the connection is unclear as these items may have been transported later.[13]Sites near it have been sources of ancientBrahmi scriptinscriptions, considered pre-Ashokan near village Badli.[14]Local excavations have been a source of red ware and painted gray ware confirming ancient settlement.[13]
Pushkar is mentioned in theRamayana,theMahabharataand thePuranas,suggesting its significance in historical and religious tradition ofHinduism.[13][15]The city is mentioned in many texts dated to the 1st millennium.[9]These texts are not, however, historical. The earliest historical records relating to Pushkar and Ajmer are found in Islamic texts describing the raids and conquest of northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent.[13]
The region finds mention inMohammad Ghori's 1192 CE conquest related records, in the defeat ofPrithviraj Chauhan.Thereafter, Pushkar and nearby Ajmer find mention in historical records related toQutub-ud-din Aibak.It was regained by Hindus under theChahamanas of Ranastambhapurain 1287, but regained by theDelhi Sultanatein 1301 and remained in Muslim control for many centuries.[13]Akbarmade the nearby Ajmer one of the provincial capitals, and it remained a part of theMughal Empireuntil 1712 CE.[13]The Muslim rule brought destruction as well as cultural influences.Aurangzeb's armies destroyed the Hindu temples along the lake.[1]The cattle and camel trading tradition brought merchants from Afghanistan.[16]With the collapse of Mughal Empire after Aurangzeb, Pushkar was regained by Hindus and became a part ofJodhpur Stateunder the Rathores of Marwar who rebuilt the temples and ghats.[5]Several important temples were rebuilt by the Rajputs, Marathas, Brahmans and wealthy Hindu merchants. The Brahma temple was rebuilt by Gokul Parak Oswal, the temple of Saraswati was rebuilt by the Purohit of Jodhpur, the temple of Badri Narayana was rebuilt by the Thakur of Kherwa, the temple of Varaha which had been destroyed byJahangirwas rebuilt by MaharajaBakht Singh of Marwarand the Maratha Noble Goma Rao rebuilt the Shiva Atmateshwara Temple.[1][17]In 1801, Pushkar came under British rule and remained a part of theBritish Rajuntil 1947.[13]
In contemporary times, it has been the venue of the famed annualPushkar Camel Fair.[3]
Demographics
editIn 1901, the town was part of theRajputana Agencyhad a population of 3,831.[19]
According to 2011 Indiacensus,[18]Pushkar had a population of 21,626. The town had 11,335 resident males and 10,291 females. Children in the 0-6 age group constituted 13.95% of the population. About 80% of the population including all age groups was literate (90% male literacy rate, 70% female). The town had over 4,250 houses, or about 5 residents on average per house.[18]
Festivals and landmarks
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Pushkar Fair
editPushkar fair continues for five days and these five days are a period of relaxation and merry-making for the villagers. This fair time is the busiest time for them, as this is one of the largest cattle fairs in the country. Animals, including over 50,000 camels,[citation needed]are brought from distant places around to be traded and sold. All the camels are washed and adorned, some are shorn to form artistic patterns. Some camels, horses, and cows are colorfully decorated.[21]
In addition to the animal trading market, Pushkar in parallel holds a festival of folk music and dances, ferris wheels, magic shows, horse and camel races and various other traditional sports and team entertainment competitions. While the Pushkar fair is held around the Kartik Purnima that typically overlaps between late October and early November, other seasons feature other sports and festivals for pilgrims who visit thesacred lake.[22][23]
Sikh Gurdwaras
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Pushkar is a sacred pilgrimage site for Sikhs as well, according to Gurmukh Singh, with Gurdwaras dedicated toGuru NanakandGuru Gobind Singh.These have historic roots, with the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in the eastern part of the town called Guru Nanak Dharamsala, a name common for Sikh shrines before the 20th-century. The Sikh Dharamshala is a two-storeyed building consisting of a central room, surrounded by a verandah.[5]
The second Sikh temple is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh marking his visit after he leftAnandpurSahib. Pandit Parmanand took an oath on the holy cow on behalf ofHindu kingsand Muslim priest, Qazi Syyed Wali Hassan took an oath on the Quran which was handwritten by Aurangzeb. They promised that if Guru ji leaves Anandpur Sahib then he will not attack Guru ji and everyone can move out of Anandpur Sahib peacefully.[5]The place he stayed in and the lakefront next to it is now called the Gobind Ghat. It has a memorial inscription and this shrine was built with the sponsorship of the Maratha Empire, after the widespread Hindu-Muslim wars in the final decades of Aurangzeb rule and the collapse of the Mughal Empire.[5]The shrine has an old hand written copy of the Sikh scripture, theGuru Granth Sahiband ahukumnamabelieved by Sikhs to have been written by Guru Gobind Singh. Both these have been preserved by a Pushkar Brahmin priest, a descendant of the priest whom the Guru met. Thehukumnamais on abhoj patra,a method of recording letters in the 18th century.[5]
Pushkar Holi
editHoli takes place in March and it is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. It represents the triumph of good over evil and the coming of springtime. Holi celebrations happen all over India and involve huge jubilant street parties. During Holi,Bhang(ancient Indiancannabis edible) is served in Pushkar, which is known to have some of the best Bhang in India.[24]
Other landmarks
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- Brahma Temple(Jagatpita Brahma Mandir) – The most important temple in Pushkar is the temple of Brahma, one of the holy trinity of Hinduism. The temple enshrines a life-size idol of Brahma.
Fairs
Ajmeris the nearest tourist attraction that lies outside the city boundaries of Pushkar. Located 27 kilometres away from Ajmer, there is Kishangarh, famous for its miniature paintings, more popularly known asBani Thani.[citation needed]
Pushkar Lake– The prime attraction of Pushkar is the Pushkar Lake which is considered sacred like the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. Pushkar has become a place of Hindu pilgrimage because of this holy lake. Legend has it that this lake was consecrated to Brahma, the creator of the universe when alotusdropped from his hand into the vale and a lake emerged in that place.
- Ghats around lake
There are around 52 ghats around the lake. But some of the most visited ghats are Gwalior ghat, yag ghat, Varaha ghat, gau ghat, Jaipur ghat, karni ghat, dadhich ghat, saptarishi ghat, and Kota ghat. Authorities consider all these ghats around the lake as “monuments of national importance.”
The royal families of Rajasthan restored the lake and ghats. The time to visit the lake is between 9 AM to 6 PM every day.
- Activities to do
One can enjoy the camel rides near Pushkar Lake to witness the beauty of Aravali hills. Visitors also love to hang out at the best spots of Pushkar like the Brahma temple, and Pushkar palace which represent the rich Rajasthani culture and glimpse of Rajput rulers in a very beautiful way.
- The best time to visit
The months between November to March are perfect for a fun trip to Pushkar, Rajasthan. The weather is also just right. Moreover, one can also enjoy the famous camel fair during kartik poornima along with festivities.[7]
Sunset Point– Located at the southern end of the Pushkar lake, Sunset Point is one of the famous attractions in Pushkar. It is also a place where many artists show their talent in front of the visitors.
Old Pushkar– Old Pushkar lake is rebuilt and is located around 5 km from Pushkar Lake. According to the ancient texts, Old Pushkar has equal cultural and religious significance for the pilgrims.
See also
edit- List of lakes in India
- Suresh Singh Rawatmember of the 14th House Representing Pushkar Constituency.
- Savitri Mata Mandir
References
edit- ^abcdefgPushkar,Encyclopaedia Britannica
- ^"Al-Hind: The Slavic Kings and the Islamic conquest, 11th-13th centuries", Page. 326
- ^abcdefJames G. Lochtefeld (2002).The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z.The Rosen Publishing Group. p.539.ISBN978-0-8239-3180-4.
- ^David Abram (2003).The Rough Guide to India.Rough Guides. p. 192.ISBN9781843530893.
- ^abcdefGurmukh Singh (2009),Pushkar,Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Editor in Chief: Harbans Singh, Punjab University
- ^David L. Gladstone (2013).From Pilgrimage to Package Tour: Travel and Tourism in the Third World.Routledge. pp. 183–184.ISBN978-1-136-07874-3.
- ^abjaanekyadikhjaaye, jaanekyadikhjaaye (30 January 2024)."Pushkar - The Timeless Beauty Of Rajasthan".Jaane Kya Dikh Jaaye.Retrieved3 August2024.
- ^A. Kalyanaraman.Aryatarangini, the saga of the Indo-Aryans, Volume 2.Asia Pub. House, 1970. p. 551.
- ^abEnnala Praveen (2006).Pushkar: moods of a desert town.Rupa & Co. pp. 10–12.ISBN9788129108456.
- ^Dikh Jaaye, Jaane Kya (30 January 2024)."Pushkar – The Timeless Beauty Of Rajasthan".Jaanekyadikhjaaye.Retrieved11 June2024.
- ^Dikh Jaaye, Jaane Kya (30 January 2024)."Pushkar - The Timeless Beauty Of Rajasthan".Jaane Kya Dikh Jaaye.Retrieved11 June2024.
- ^"Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda, Chapter 15 - Importance of Dwelling at a sacred place (tīrtha)".August 2019.
- ^abcdefgAjmer district,Rajasthan, Census of India, Government of India, pages 9-12
- ^Dilip K. Chakrabarti (1999).India, an Archaeological History: Palaeolithic Beginnings to Early Historic Foundations.Oxford University Press. p. 263.ISBN978-0-19-564573-6.
- ^David L. Gladstone (2013).From Pilgrimage to Package Tour: Travel and Tourism in the Third World.Routledge. pp. 179–181.ISBN978-1-136-07874-3.
- ^Jos J. L. Gommans(1995).The Rise of the Indo-Afghan Empire: C. 1710-1780.BRILL Academic. pp. 80–83.ISBN90-04-10109-8.
- ^The Rajputana gazetteer, Volume 2, pg.69
- ^abcPushkar census 2011
- ^"Pushkar".The Imperial Gazetteer of India.1909. p. v. 21, 1.
- ^Pushkar FairThe Wall Street Journal (14 November 2013)
- ^Ennala Praveen (2006).Pushkar: moods of a desert town.Rupa & Co. pp. 68–76.ISBN9788129108456.
- ^RAJASTHAN: IT'S FAIR TIME IN PUSHKAR,Outlook Traveller (26 October 2016)
- ^Pushkar Camel Fair Lights Up the Indian Thar Desert,Bloomberg
- ^"The intoxicating drug of an Indian god".
External links
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- Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Pushkartravel guide from Wikivoyage
