Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India, which is nestled in the Aravali range Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Pushhkar is commonly referred to as tirthraj, meaning, ‘the king of pilgrim destinations’.
Pushkar is located on the west of the beautiful Aravalli Mountains in the Rajasthan. Some of India’s oldest geological structures are located close to Pushkar. In the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas, Pushkar is mentioned, emphasizing its relevance in the Hindu historical and religious legacy.
Historical heritage
The Pushkar Lake, also known as ‘TirthaRaj’, is a semi-circular-shaped holy lake. According to Hindu mythology, the lake was formed from one of the petals that dropped from the lotus flower after Bramhaji killed the demon Vajra Nabh with it. In addition to having 52 ghats where worshippers can take a sacred dip, the Pushkar Lake is encircled by over 300 temples. It is a common belief that if someone bathes in the lake on Kartik Purnima, they will be cured. It is also believed that doing so will cleanse them of all their sins and heal any skin conditions.
Pushkar Lake has a long history that stretches back to the fourth century BC. Although the construction of a dam over the Luni river in the 12th century marked the beginning of Pushkar Lake’s development as an artificial lake. The Rajput kings of Amber, Bundi, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer worked hard to restore the lake’s significance and the temples that surround it. Ghats were then constructed across the lake by numerous monarchs from various regions.
As mentioned in the historical records regarding Qutubuddin Aibak, it is said that Mohammad Ghauri had captured the Pushkar Lake, which was eventually regained by the Hindu Kingdoms. Later, mughal emporer Akbar had recaptured it and it remained under the Muslim rule for many centuries after that. The lake and its surroundings suffered a lot of destruction and manipulated the religious history. It was during Aurangzeb’s rule that the lake and the temples nearby were completely razed.
The Architectural beauty of Pushkar
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Hindu emperors rebuilt the lake and restored the glory of the Pushkar in true sense. Pushkar is also known for having the one and only Brahmaji mandir in the entire world, which is thought to be around 2,000 years old. This temple was also destroyed by the Muslim invaders, which was reconstructed by the Hindu Kings and merchants.
The city of Pushkar has more than 500 temples, which are beautifully built on the surrounding Ghats of the lake. There are several ghats at Pushkar Lake. Some of them are the Saptarishi ghat, Dadhichi ghat, Kota ghat, Gwalior ghat, Karni ghat, Gau ghat, Gangaur ghat etc.
‘The camel fair’ of Pushkar
The biggest camel fair in Asia, called the Pushkar Camel Fair, lasts from Prabodhini Ekadashi until the full Moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. At this time, the lake is swamped by the tourists. Given that it is one of the biggest cattle fairs, the local people are the busiest during these five days. Camels and other animals are transported from far-off locations to be exchanged and sold. Each camel is decorated, bathed, and some are even sheared to create beautiful patterns.
An important for pilgrimage for the Sikhs
Sikhs also revere Pushkar as a holy destination for pilgrimage. It is believed that Guru Govind Singh preached a divine sermon from the Guru Granth Sahib at one of the ghats of Pushkar Lake. Guru Gobind Singh had travelled to Pushkar from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. The place where He had stayed is now known as the ‘Gobind ghat’. There are two beautiful Gurdwaras built in Pushkar, which are dedicated to Guru Nanak dev ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji. ‘Hukumnama’, that Sikhs follow, was written by Guru Gobind Singh ji, as well as an old handwritten copy of the Guru Granth Sahib. A Pushkar Brahmin priest who is a descendant of the priest the Guru visited has preserved both of these.
