|
Young World
Colour in the desert
COMPILED BY NIMI KURIAN
PHOTO: AP
PUSHKAR: Week-long fair.
In the month of Kartik each year, a staggering number of camels travel their way across the golden sands of Rajasthan to collect at Pushkar for the week-long fair devoted to them. Coming in from all directions, their masters astride them, they flick the sand at every step with casual ease. Completing the scene thousands of men, women and children, come with their beasts, suddenly inhabiting the barren plain with the camel providing the backdrop. The contrast to the dull desert landscape is the riot of colours.
The culmination is on Kartik Purnima, the day of ritual oblation. Bathing begins at dawn. The famed waters of the Pushkar Lake wash away the sins of a lifetime. The mystical water is also believed to cure skin diseases. After bathing, the devotees line up in long colourful queues to take their turn to worship the creator, Brahma. Romance touches Pushkar on the full moon night, as tiny leaf boats, each carrying flowers and an oil lamp, are set afloat on the placid lake. Twinkling like thousands of stars, their flickering flames reflected in the water. The next day dawns for the exodus.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
|
