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 The city of Pushkar, the lake and on the left, the fair ground with the camels. |
 ndia, country of superlatives.Rajasthan, land of desert and colours. Once a year, on the full moon of Kartik Purnima, corresponding to november, the little town of Pushkar, calm and quiet the rest of the year, is suddenly taken by a fever. All the camel drivers of the Thar desert start to move towards the little blue city, and meet there for the biggest camel fair of the world. |
 Des chameaux à perte de vue. |
During two weeks, almost 200'000 people and 50'000 camels gather near the little town. Everyone sets his camp, just next to his herd, and is going to stay there for the whole duration of the fair. The place seems to be a mess, but it's not that messy after all. |
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The camel fair is also an excuse for a big funfair. Circuses, magic shows,
carousels and a big wheel are installed near the fair grounds. The fair ends with 4 days of a more official
part including camel races, horse races and a cattle beauty contest. All these activities take place
in front of a very attentive audience, in the middle of the bright colours of turbans and sarees. |
 A colourful fair |
 Unexpected meeting... |
During the fair, the most exciting activity is simply wandering among camels and camel drivers, and to
watch people coming and going. Camel drivers are extremely kind people, and it is quite common to
to spend long hours chating and having tea with them under their tents. You can watch people preparing their animals for the sale : they are petted, lovingly coombed and shaved. The better the camel looks, the higher the price. |
| Randomly meeting people, you get to know amazing persons. Used to live in the middle of the Thar desert during the rest of the year, the camel drivers also come to the fair to meet their colleagues and friends, and they will share these moments of laughter and joy with you. |  Unforgettable meetings... |
 The camels remain the stars of the fair. |
 And when they win the beauty contest, they can be really proud. |
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But let's not forget that the camel remain the stars of the fair... These animals are really proud, and if they let you take their picture, it's always on the best angle... During the big celebrations at the end of the fair, during the 4 last days, camel races, horse races and cattle beauty contests are organized. The winners get rewards, and their selling price can go sky high. The camel drivers will tell you the selling prices of the most beautiful and fastest camels. In India, every activity has a spiritual side. The Pushkar camel fair coincides with a religious festival. Pushkar is one of the only cities in India with a temple dedicated to Brahma, the god of creation. The little lake of Pushkar is one of the holy lake of India, and thousands of pilgrims come here for a purifying bath. |
 The festival ends with a bath in the lake |