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| November 4, 2009 | (Use j/k keys to navigate)  Email to a friend  Permalink |
Pushkar Mela
Pushkar Mela (or Pushkar Fair) is an annual five-day camel and livestock fair, held in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan, India, where over 25,000 camels are traded each year. The fair draws thousands of tourists, camels, camel traders, racers, locals and Hindu faithful who come to bathe in the sanctified Lake Pushkar - until the final day, Kartik Poornima, a Hindu holy day celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Kartik. Collected here are a handful of photographs from Associated Press photographer Kevin Frayer, from his trip to this year's Pushkar Mela. (30 photos total)
A Hindu holy man stands before the backdrop of the dry bed of the sanctified Lake Pushkar, where Hindus throng to bathe, especially in the holy month of Karthik, during the Pushkar fair on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. A government project to clean it up and make it deeper coupled with severe drought like situation in the area has left the lake dry, according to locals. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #
More links and information
Pushkar without a dip - India Today, 11/1
Pushkar Fair - Wikipedia entry
Pushkar - Google map
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Wow, is this reality or a Star Wars set?
Apparently Rama gets thirsty (#12)
LOL
#5 - Seems like the people are big fans of Ferris wheels.
#30 has a Mona Lisa smile.
Great pictures. Shows how much color Rajasthani folks add to their life!
Except for the utility poles in the background, #2 could be of a scene that's 2 days old...or 2,000 years old. Excellent...
Awesome pictures! Photographers are the luckiest people, they get to see all the world!
If i may add... It's not usually tobacco that gets smoked from them pipes.
Unfortunate to see the dry lake bed.
Great photographs! Kevin Frayer, take a bow!
This looks like so much fun! I want a camel. Or, maybe I just want to hang out at bizarre Indian festivals. No, I want a camel, too. No, scratch that, I want a pet anteater. Also, the dog in picture #12. Also, I think they should have a camel mustache competition in addition to the regular (and clearly awesome) mustache competition.
Mike Hollman shared these photographs to us... As #12 says Photographers are the luckiest people...
cool pictures from India!
One of the largest fair in India!
#15 is so funny. "Naaaaaa - not going," he says, and seems like it may take a couple more guys to get'im to move. Mulecamel...!! Loved the pictures and especially the surreal lens-filled camel shots. My very favorite stop of the day here to see what's been added, pictures and comments!
One of my favorite collection on this site. Excellent lights and composition.
Don't you know how good it smells around there?
This pic like bedwan !!
So to be a hindu holy man, you have to be homeless and stoned all the time? Sign me up, I've been doing that for 20 years! Welcome to the realm of the enlightenment.
Good photographers are just that - good at their job! YOU're LUCKY enough to see good photographs by them. Photographers aren't lucky! Try taking photographs like these in the same place at the same time!
Superb Colors and mix of light.
This is the best time to visit Rajasthan.As winter season is starting.
@9 Its called Kalbeliya Dance.
@10 This is Kachhi Ghodi Dance.Its very funny
@ 15 In winter camels becomes very aggressive.
@16 looks she is going to kill somebody
@20 very funny!!!
@30 Great pose Dirty but still white.
Missing my home.
As 13 said, they are not smoking tobacco out of the pipe in #3.
Its much more sacred and different...
Aunque son excelentes fotos no me dieron muchas ganas de conocer ese lugar......Dificil decidir.....Mmmmm...Creo q la 2 y la 18 son las mejores....
#16 is a fantastic, fantastic portrait.
Very interesting pics...great job!
Wow, this sure brings back memories. *Mosez was in Pushkar 10 years ago to date and remembers the hike up the mountain to watch the sun set vividly. Can't believe the lake is dry!
#3 : that guy is NOT smoking tobacco. The clay pipe is called a 'chilum', and is used to smoke...you guessed it...the smoke of Shiva...MARIJUANA!
Woww ! It's an other world !
India looks like such a cool place. I can't wait to go!!
Great Pics!
#4 is awesome! I'd love to do a photo essay on that brother and sister.
very nice
These are some great shot. My hometown is just 150 km away from this place but I couldn't get a chance to visit the fair..
Great shoot Man... Truly Awesome :)
Pushkar... Isn't that Hindi for Skoda?
Very amazing pictures, 12 the Rama is well dressed and Pulling on Troley. Mineral water bottle on floor shows that even Rama needs Purified water in this Polluted environment
Fantastic pictures today, as always. Kudos to the photographer and The Big Picture, for bringing a little wonder and culture to my RSS feed.
awesome pics!
Its an amazing place. Sad to find the lake dry. Was there on the first day of this fair.
Beautiful!
i would love to see it through my own eyes! Awesome set!
It is amazing. Specially the morning pics are great.
Beautiful ....
I find it Ironical ... to see the beauty of my country I rely on your lens ...
Thanx anyways
Excellent pictures. The town is also very beautiful.
I've been their in 2008, it's a very spiritual town. Too bad the fair leaves a great deal of plastic rubbish in the desert.
Normally the pool as seen in #26 is full with water which reaches the ghats.
Amazing coverage. Bravo Kevin
amazing pictures.. colors of indian life.. :)
these animals can't be camels ? :s
They onlyhave on hump => drumedaries (arabian camels)
That woman in #16 looks like she could kick anyone's butt... she looks like she's modeling for an arcade fighting game.
Thank you for showing me my rich cultural Heritage. I love my India and a die hard Rajasthani
Excellent pictures
grate pics! love the color, hate the sand!
but, no one seems to note the little boy pushing in #12, esta camuflado entre los petalos.
thanks!!! gracias!!
Remarkable pictures.
My favorite is 4!
Awesome pictures, colour and composition! I love pictures #2 and #27.
Guess you should change the caption of the picture #28. What makes you say that is a Holy man? No holy ash or other such symbols on his forehead.. he is not asking for alms, just having a smoke! Most probably a helper/caretaker at the Bath Ghat or a destitue sleeping at the Ghat whom you photographed in the morning having his first smoke.
Hindu Holy men you wud find in these places look more like those in pics #25 and #29 (with a tuft of hair on the head called 'sikha' or long hair like rastafarians).
Exotic, exotic! Transfixing.
I grew up with little plaster casts hanging on the wall of exotic heads from around the world, given to us by my grandad. These are some of the same wonderous faces.
'Just a day in the life of these people though.
We need to take pause, and consider whether we should impose our lifestyle upon ancient cultures.
In #12 the (empty) water bottle takes away from the whole setting. Why would they use them... it is more a puzzlement than a question. (Steeped in old traditions that is why it makes me wonder.)
Thanks again for the beautiful pictures.
These are fantastic. Evidence - I scrolled all the way to the bottom. Thanks!
No words to express the beauty of the pictures.
Superb Job!
#16 can get chance in Harry Potter movie!
I liked the #30 - very good potrait
Superb pics .. My Favoutire Pic is 2 :)
Lovely Pics. #16 should have been in the Halloween category. :)
Honestly, I found this set of pictures to be rather ordinary. Having got used to the superlative standards of The Big Picture, was expecting the Pushkar pictures to be a lot more breathtaking. Disappointed :(
Like 11.
Pics are really amazing !!! Pushkar Mela of Rajasthan Rocks !!! :)
Hats off to the photographer....
Amazing..will like to visit to Rajasthan next year during the fair time.
Land of Colours!!! Thats what Rajasthan is!! Won't mind being the king of it when the world is re-drawn!! ;)
great
Amazing! My favorites #2 and 30
Wow! We were there a year ago and the lake was full ! What happened? If you like to travel, this is a very unique experience and would recommend everyone go. We loved it!
Such wonderful photographs! :)
my faves: 1, 4, 9, 18, 22, 28
#4 especially gets my attention...soo sweet :)
Two Thumbs up!!
absolutely amazing work
I think I am in love with #9.
the pics with the petals..fantastic...wat equipment is it?
Very stunning and absolutely beautiful photos
Amazing how those people can have so much pride while having so little. Something we can all learn from.
Amazing! The saturation of color is incredible!
This festivities shows how independent people can celebrate their freedom unlike the 60th anniversary by the Chinese government.
Nice work Kevin.......
Wonderful Pics!!!
Very nice pictures, i also went to pushkar but you are showing a completely different mood in your pictures
Fantastic light moods!!
Good. But could have been better. Some of the shots seemed repetitive.
I have just returned from a 4 week work-trip to India. These incredible photos make me want to go back first thing tomorrow!! Stunning. Such a miriad of beautiful people, colours and life!
if you are in india you are a very lucky person.
you made great use of light.
despite india's problem you have really captured indians
Awesome pics, we group of 13 students also visited the same PUSKAR mela this year, but really theses PICS, made my trip awesome
Hats off to for this superb photography and colour mixing... I was too in that 13 engineering students gang and very sadly missed to capture this beauty of Pushkar Fair as my cam charger has failed to work :( ..
I m eager to get in touch with u Mr. Photographer..Really touching and impressive shots :)
@ Comment no 31 Nate : you are always welcome in INDIA. need help contact me . m from pune, india.
@kevin .extraordinary snaps man. the lense you used is in my wishlist now :)
I always love the big pictures from Boston
Excellent photograph I met Photographer in Bhuj and he is fantastic young man
Hasmukh Gor
Love it. Definitely will attend when I travel to India.
Wonderful photos, particularly the ones with the warm evening light filtered through the dust. Such atmosphere! I got to see a camel marked near Osiyan in Rajastan, but it wasn't nearly as epic feeling as this.
Mr kevin Frayer. As a travel advisor and tour guide I have seen a lot of travel fotos. Must say urs r outstanding. U seem to have a great relationship with ur camera and u have excellent subject sense.
Well done!! u were definitely meant to be a fotographer.
As others have pointed out, #3 is smoking a chillum, and it's most likely not tobacco.:)
awesome.. the rule of 1/3rd followed in most of the pic is amazing
These are wonderful photos. I like the last picture best! What a lovely smile!!!!!!!
Having seen this at first hand and stayed in the Guest House with Mr Radjastani Moustache 1996, I hope Moustache nets are making a come back. India at its most splendid
Those were really nice images and they capture the event very well. If you want to see Pushkar when the mela (fair) isn't happening, then you can visit: photos.suchit.in/Travel/Ajmer-Pushkar-Rajasthan-India/6558196_nPsJw/ and photos.suchit.in/search/index.mg?searchWords=pushkar&searchType=InUser&NickName=suchitnanda&x=0&y=0
Thanks a lot! I had much pleasure viewing these pictures. Number 4 is special - these two have so peaceful and friendly faces. They seem to know something about how to live this life. I love them. I'd like to meet them someday.
P.S. I've been to Puskar in 2008, it's a small nice place in everyday life.
in 50 years India will be the most populous country.
Simply fantastic...shows the richness of India...every bit of that country is different...
what a fantastic picture of pushkar.
i saw first time in world.
i wonder that these photos of pushkar may develop of pushkar in tha map
tourism.
Pushkar is a holy place like Haridwar. Camel festival is just one of the activities at Pushkar. There are many other religious and spritual activities related to Pushkar. Pictures are good of camels. Rajasthanis wear colourful clothes.