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Pushkar Town
Pushkar is a town in the
state of Rajasthan in India. Pushkar means born due to a
flower. In Hindu mythology it is said that the gods
released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall
on earth where Brahma would perform a grand yagna. The
place where the lotus fell was called Pushkar. It is
situated 14 Km from Ajmer and is one of the five sacred
dhams (pilgrimage sites for devout Hindus.) It is often
called "Tirth Raj" - the king of pilgrimage sites - and
has in recent years become a popular destination for
foreign tourists.
Pushkar lies on the shore
of Pushkar Lake. It has five principal temples, many
smaller temples and 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to
the lake to bathe in the sacred waters. One of the
primary temples is the 14th century temple dedicated to
Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Very few temples to
Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world. Other temples
of Brahma include those at Besakih in Bali, Bithoor in
Uttar Pradesh, India, and Prambanan in Indonesia.
Pushkar is also famous for its annual Pushkar Camel
Fair.
As indicated by Pushkar's
position as the starting point of the grand pilgrimage, the
worship of Brahma was considered highly important at the end
of the first millenium BC. Pushkar is the only pilgrimage
shrine dedicated to Brahma in the whole of India. The
function of Brahma - creating the world - has been
completed, while Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the
destroyer) still have relevance to the continuing order of
the universe. Brahma is also a god of the Aryan invaders and
during Vedic times, his cult temporarily displaced the more
ancient indigenous Shiva and Shakti cults. With the passing
of the period of major Aryan influence, these deities
reemerged more powerful than before.
The 'Nag pahar' or the Snake
Mountain forms a natural boundary between Ajmer and Pushkar.
Surrounded by hills on three sides, pushkar abounds in
temples. Of these the most famous is the only Brahma temple
in the world.
A city of Pilgrimage from time
immemorial with over 500 temples and ghats, Pushkar begets a
legacy of timeless architectural heritage. Pushkar radiates
an ambience of peace and spirituality that casts a lure to
visit again and again.
Pushkar has an immense hidden potential as a tourist
destination:
- The Pushkar fair is
amongst the largest cattle fairs in the world.
- Amongst the oldest
cities in India, with references in mythology and the
Mahabharat - Site of the only temple in the world
dedicated to Brahma - the creator.
- The site of the
holiest lake in the country.
- 52 bathing ghats,
which are linked to the lunar calendar, enclose the
lake. Each ghat has its own miraculous qualities and
powers of healing.
- This city of temples
has over 500 temples built over different eras with
varied architectural styles.
- The rose garden of
Rajasthan - the essence of the famous Pushkar rose is
exported the world over.
- The most varied
terrain in Rajasthan with sand, rock, hills, vegetation
and lakes is ideal for adventure activities.
- Proximity to a number
of heritage properties in the area.
- A number of fairs and
festivals in Pushkar, especially on the new and full
moon days.
- The Dargah of Khwaja
Moin-Uddin-Chishti amongst the most sacred Muslims
shrines is located at near by Ajmer.
- An opportunity to
visit local villages still free from commercialization
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