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 camel herder carries a budle of leaves for camel feed at the Pushkar Mela in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Camels are seen at sunrise at the Pushkar Mela in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A camel herder smokes tobacco through a pipe in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Indian camel herders, brother and sister, stand for a portrait in the animal market at the Pushkar Mela in Pushkar, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Camel herders and their livestock gather on fairgrounds at the Pushkar Mela on Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Camel herders gather near their animals in Pushkar, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Indian women gather in the camel market at the Pushkar Mela, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A camel herder checks the teeth of a camel before buying at the Pushkar Mela, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A woman dances as she takes part in a parade in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

An Indian theater troupe takes part in a parade at the Pushkar Mela on Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Flowers thrown by the crowd are seen as Indian Hindu holy men take part in a parade at the Pushkar Mela, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A man dressed as the Hindu god Rama is showered with flowers as he takes part in a parade in Pushkar, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A camel herder drives his herd in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A camel herder stands for a portrait in the animal market at the Pushkar Mela, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Camel herders try to wrangle a reluctant camel for sale at the Pushkar Mela, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A camel herder stands for her portrait in the animal market at the Pushkar Mela, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Indian children ride in the back of a truck in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A child performer walks on a rope as she entertains festival goers at the Pushkar Mela on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Contestant J.S. Chounan shows his moustache to the crowd after winning the annual "longest moustache" competition at the Pushkar Mela on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. According to locals his moustache is a combined total of 11 feet (3.35 meters) long and took 18 years to grow. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A contestant wears flowers as he shows his moustache to the crowd during the annual "longest moustache" competition at the Pushkar Mela in Puskhar, Rajasthan, India, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Camel herders and their animals gather in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Men drink their morning tea as they wait to sell or trade their animals at the Pushkar Mela, early Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A dog takes a drink of water at a watering hole meant for livestock at the Pushkar Mela, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Women gather in the animal market in Pushkar, India, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

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) #

A small pool of water is seen at the sanctified Pushkar Lake in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

Camel herders sit with their animals at the Pushkar Mela on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A Hindu holy man waits for alms at the sanctified Lake Pushkar in Pushkar, India on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A Hindu holy man bathes in a tank on the edge of the sanctified Lake Pushkar on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Water is pumped in on a daily basis in tanks near the lake in an effort to satisfy the scores of devout who have arrived to bathe during the annual pilgrimage. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

A camel herder stands for a portrait in the animal market at the Pushkar Mela in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, early Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #