Name : ………………….
Programme Code : BTS
Course Code : PTS - 4
Enrollment No : ………………..
Regional Centre : ………………….
Study Centre Code : ………………….
Title of the Project : Pushkar Fair
LETTER/CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
I hereby certify that the proposal for the project entitled Pushkar Fair by …………………. has been prepared after due consultation with me. The proposal has my approval and has, to my knowledge, the potential of developing into a comprehensive Project work. I also agree to supervise the above mentioned Project till its completion.
(Signature of Supervisor)
Name:
Designation:
Address:
INTRODUCTION
Few countries in the world have a tradition, culture and variety as diverse as this multi-faceted land called India. Enriched by successive waves of migration and marauders from distant lands, every one of them left an indelible imprint, which was absorbed, into the Indian way of life. It is this variety, which provides a breathtaking ensemble for experiences that is uniquely Indian. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as varied as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day. Modern day India represents the largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in diversity unparalleled anywhere else.
Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the north-west of Ajmer. About 400 temples and shrines are located at Pushkar around its holy lake, which finds a mention in the Padma Purana. Legend has it that Lord Brahma in search for a spot to hold his 'yagna' (religious ritual), dropped the lotus from his hand, the three spots touched by this flower were turned into lakes. These are today known as the 'Jyeshtha Pushkar' (main Pushkar), the 'Madhyam Pushkar' (medium Pushkar) and the 'Kanishtha Pushkar' (little Pushkar). A temple dedicated to Lord Brahma is located at Pushkar; the other important temples are those of Gayatri, Savitri, Shiv and Badri Narayan.
Obviously the media haven’t been paying attention to an event that takes place every autumn in red desert in India’s Rajasthan state. It’s called the Pushkar Fair, and for pure spectacle, scope, raucousness, color and happy hell-raising, no other fair on earth can quite compare to it.
Like India, the fair seems to be a dozen different things. Originally begun as a festival to honor Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, it also became the biggest camel fair on earth. The 200,000 pilgrims, farmers and camel drivers who attend it each year are joined by 50,000 camels and cattle, all descending on the small town of Pushkar at the edge of the Marusthali Desert. They, in turn, are joined by Hindu holy men, vendors, musicians, actors, tattoo artists, marriage brokers, outsiders and tourists in a combination county fair, hoedown, shivaree and Chautauqua that lasts seven days.
By the end of it, wagers from dozens of camel, horse and donkey races will have passed through many hands, devout Hindus will have performed ritual ablutions at the edge of Pushkar Lake (India’s most sacred) and the usually empty and drear Marusthali will have bloomed with thousands of human flowers.
This year's fair will be held Nov. 23-26. Little Pushkar, population 13,000, will take the onslaught of humanity and livestock in stride, providing everything from places to tether camels to western-style lodgings and amenities.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The primary objective of my project is to find out:
- How the Pushkar Fair is organized.
The secondary objective includes:
- To find out the impact of commercialization of the Pushkar fair.