Vendors lined the route to the fairground selling all kinds of horse and camel
paraphernalia, as well as anything traders could need, from bedrolls to barbers.
However, whatever was for sale seemed to cater only to men, even while many
women formed part of the fair. It looked like women remained second-class citizens,
as they were the dung collectors and chapati makers. It was understood barely 50%
of Rajasthan women are educated. The state has the most significant education gap
between men and women in India.
Aside from the traders and photographers, hordes of travellers filled this small town.
The camel fair (I soon discovered) was merrily a sideshow to the real deal. The main
event is Kartik Purnima, which refers to when the pilgrims come to dip in the sacred
lake of Pushkar. The town was noisy and crowded, and the narrow thoroughfare was
crammed with tourists, pilgrims and beggars. I quite liked the madness of it all. Then
there were the bizarre - from the limbless sporting begging bowls to snake charmers
and five-legged calves. It felt like all one needed to make a few bucks were a begging
bowl and a spot outside the temple (it did cross my mind to get a bowl!). This was
indeed the event of the year.