WikiDwarfBOT: robot: add new article

2023-07-22T01:47:19Z

robot: add new article

New page

{{About|city in Rajasthan|annual festive fair|Pushkar Fair||Pushkar (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pushkar
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| image_skyline = Pushkar.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Pushkar, Ajmer district, Rajasthan aerial view
| nickname = Tirthraj Pushkar तीर्थराज पुष्कर
| pushpin_map = India Rajasthan#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Rajasthan, [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|26.487652|N|74.555922|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Rajasthan]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Ajmer district|Ajmer]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| unit_pref = Metric
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 510
| population_total = 21626<ref name=britpushkar/>
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| subdivision_type = [[Country]]
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]]
}}

'''Pushkar''' is a [[city]], near [[Ajmer|Ajmer City]] and headquarters of Pushkar tehsil in the [[Ajmer district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Rajasthan]]. It is situated about {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Ajmer]] and about {{convert|150|km}} southwest of [[Jaipur]].<ref name=britpushkar>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Pushkar Pushkar], Encyclopaedia Britannica</ref> It is a pilgrimage site for [[Hindu]]s and [[Sikh]]s. Pushkar has many temples. Most of the temples and ghats in Pushkar are from the 18th century and later, because many temples were destroyed during Muslim conquests in the area.<ref name=britpushkar/><ref>"Al-Hind: The Slavic Kings and the Islamic conquest, 11th-13th centuries", Page. 326</ref> Subsequently, the destroyed temples were rebuilt. The most famous among Pushkar temples is the red spired [[Brahma temple at Pushkar|Brahma Temple]]. It is considered a sacred city by the Hindus particularly in [[Shaktism]],<ref name=britpushkar/><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p539"/> and meat and eggs consumption are forbidden in the city.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAMik_6LbwUC&pg=PA192|title=The Rough Guide to India|author=David Abram|year=2003|publisher=Rough Guides|page=192|isbn=9781843530893}}</ref> Pushkar is located on the shore of [[Pushkar Lake]], which has many [[ghats]] where pilgrims bathe.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p539"/> Pushkar is also significant for its Gurdwaras for [[Guru Nanak]] and [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. One of the bathing ghats is called Gobind ghat built by the Sikhs in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh.<ref name=eospushkar>Gurmukh Singh (2009), [http://www.learnpunjabi.org/eos/index.aspx Pushkar], Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Editor in Chief: Harbans Singh, Punjab University</ref>

Pushkar is famous for its annual fair ([[Pushkar Camel Fair]]) featuring a trading fete of cattle, horses and camels.<ref name=britpushkar/> It is held over seven days in autumn marking Kartika Purnima according to the [[Hindu calendar]] ([[Kartik (month)]], October or November). It attracts nearly 200,000 people.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p539"/> In 1998, Pushkar hosted about 1 million domestic (95%) and international tourists over the year.<ref>{{cite book|author=David L. Gladstone|title=From Pilgrimage to Package Tour: Travel and Tourism in the Third World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bqOhCRKTEqcC |year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-07874-3|pages=183–184}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Hills around Pushkar, turn green during the Monsoon.jpg|thumb|Pushkar seen after monsoons.]]
In Sanskrit, ''pushkara'' ([[wikt:पुष्कर|पुष्कर]]) means "blue lotus flower."<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p539">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/539 539]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Aryatarangini, the saga of the Indo-Aryans, Volume 2|author=A. Kalyanaraman|publisher=Asia Pub. House, 1970|page=551}}</ref>

==Location==
Pushkar is in centre-east part of Rajasthan, on the western side of Aravalli mountains. The nearest airport from Pushkar is [[Kishangarh Airport]] in [[Kishangarh]], about {{convert|45|km|abbr=on}} northeast. Pushkar is about {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} from [[Ajmer]], connected via Pushkar road (Highway 58) which goes over the [[Aravalli Range]] mountains. Ajmer is also the nearest major railway station.<ref name="Praveen2006p10">{{cite book|author=Ennala Praveen|title=Pushkar: moods of a desert town|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=824wAQAAIAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Rupa & Co.|pages=10–12|isbn=9788129108456}}</ref>

==Legend==
Pushkar is believed to be the place where [[Lord Brahma|Brahma]] performed penance for a very long time and therefore is also one of the rare places which hosts a temple to the [[Hindu]] creator god. According to the [[Padma Purana|''Padma Purana'']], once Brahma decided to go to the earth and reaching the area of the present Pushkar, he entered that forest, full of many trees and creepers, adorned with many flowers, filled with the notes of many birds, crowded with groups of many beasts. Brahma was very pleased with the forests and trees and after remaining at Pushkar for a thousand years he threw a lotus on the ground which made the earth tremble to its core. The [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] were also shaken and not knowing what had caused the upheaval, went to look for Brahma but could not find him. [[Lord Vishnu|Vishnu]] told them the reason for the tremors and took them to Pushkar to meet Brahma. However they could not get a glimpse of him and [[Vayu]] and [[Brihaspati]] suggested them to meditate according to [[Vedic]] rites to be able to see Brahma. After a long time the creator-god became visible to them and asked them why they were so distressed. The devas told him about the tumult caused by his dropping the lotus from his hand and asked the reason for it. Brahma informed them that a demon named Vajranabha who used to take away the life of children was waiting there to kill the gods but Brahma brought about his destruction by dropping the lotus. Since he had dropped the lotus there, therefore that place would be known as Pushkara, a great, sanctifying holy place, giving religious merit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364135.html|title = Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda, Chapter 15 - Importance of Dwelling at a sacred place (tīrtha)}}</ref>

== History ==
Pushkar is near some of the oldest geological structures in India. [[Microlith]]s near Khera and Kaderi suggest the region was settled in ancient times. The Aravalli hills near it have yielded [[Mohenjodaro]]-style artifacts, but the connection is unclear as these items may have been transported later.<ref name=ajmercensus/> Sites near it have been sources of ancient [[Brahmi script]] inscriptions, considered pre-Ashokan near village Badli.<ref name="Chakrabarti1999p263">{{cite book|author=Dilip K. Chakrabarti|title=India, an Archaeological History: Palaeolithic Beginnings to Early Historic Foundations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YiNuAAAAMAAJ |year=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-564573-6|page=263}}</ref> Local excavations have been a source of red ware and painted gray ware confirming ancient settlement.<ref name=ajmercensus>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0821_PART_B_DCHB_AJMER.pdf Ajmer district], Rajasthan, Census of India, Government of India, pages 9-12</ref>

Pushkar is mentioned in the ''[[Ramayana]]'', the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Purana|''Puranas'']], suggesting its significance in historical and religious tradition of [[Hinduism]].<ref name=ajmercensus/><ref name="Gladstone2013p179">{{cite book|author=David L. Gladstone|title=From Pilgrimage to Package Tour: Travel and Tourism in the Third World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bqOhCRKTEqcC |year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-07874-3|pages=179–181}}</ref> The city is mentioned in many texts dated to the 1st millennium.<ref name="Praveen2006p10"/> These texts are not, however, historical. The earliest historical records relating to Pushkar and Ajmer are found in Islamic texts describing the raids and conquest of northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent.<ref name=ajmercensus/>
{{mapframe|frame=yes|type=point|zoom=SWITCH:4,6,10|switch=zoomed out, zoomed mid, zoomed in}}
The region finds mention in [[Muhammad of Ghor|Mohammad Ghori]]'s 1192 CE conquest related records, in the defeat of [[Prithviraj Chauhan]]. Thereafter, Pushkar and nearby Ajmer find mention in historical records related to [[Qutb al-Din Aibak|Qutub-ud-din Aibak]]. It was regained by Hindus under the [[Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura]] in 1287, but regained by the [[Delhi Sultanate]] in 1301 and remained in Muslim control for many centuries.<ref name=ajmercensus/> [[Akbar]] made the nearby Ajmer one of the provincial capitals, and it remained a part of the [[Mughal Empire]] until 1712 CE.<ref name=ajmercensus/> The Muslim rule brought destruction as well as cultural influences. [[Aurangzeb]]'s armies destroyed the Hindu temples along the lake.<ref name=britpushkar/> The cattle and camel trading tradition brought merchants from Afghanistan.<ref name="Gommans1995p80">{{cite book|author=Jos J. L. Gommans|title=The Rise of the Indo-Afghan Empire: C. 1710-1780|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-2TH8UYeAaoC |year=1995|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=90-04-10109-8|pages=80–83}}</ref> With the collapse of Mughal Empire after Aurangzeb, Pushkar was regained by Hindus and became a part of [[Jodhpur State]] under the Rathores of Marwar who rebuilt the temples and ghats.<ref name=eospushkar/> Several important temples were rebuilt by the Rajputs, Marathas, Brahmans and wealthy Hindu merchants. The Brahma temple was rebuilt by Gokul Parak Oswal, the temple of Saraswati was rebuilt by the Purohit of Jodhpur, the temple of Badri Narayana was rebuilt by the Thakur of Kherwa, the temple of Varaha which had been destroyed by [[Jahangir]] was rebuilt by Maharaja [[Bakht Singh of Marwar]] and the Maratha Noble Goma Rao rebuilt the Shiva Atmateshwara Temple.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=U32StdNYzFMC&dq=pushkar+gazetteer&pg=PA67 The Rajputana gazetteer, Volume 2, pg.69]</ref><ref name=britpushkar/> In 1801, Pushkar came under British rule and remained a part of the [[British Raj]] until 1947.<ref name=ajmercensus/>

In contemporary times, it has been the venue of the famed annual [[Pushkar Camel Fair]].<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p539"/>

==Demographics==
{{bar box|width = 300px
|barwidth = 250px |cellpadding="0"
|title=Religion in Pushkar<ref name=census2011>[http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/800569-pushkar.html Pushkar census 2011]</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|orange|94.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|#006600|4.02}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism]]|#DD6600|0.67}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism]]|#EE6600|0.31}}
{{bar percent|Others|#9955BB|0.50}}}}
In 1901, the town was part of the [[Rajputana Agency]] had a population of 3,831.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V21_007.gif |title=Pushkar |publisher=[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]] |year=1909 |page=v. 21, 1 }}</ref>

According to 2011 India [[census]],<ref name=census2011/> Pushkar had a population of 21,626. The town had 11,335 resident males and 10,291 females. Children in the 0-6 age group constituted 13.95% of the population. About 80% of the population including all age groups was literate (90% male literacy rate, 70% female). The town had over 4,250 houses, or about 5 residents on average per house.<ref name=census2011/>

==Festivals and landmarks ==
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1 = Pushkar watering hole.jpg | alt1=Livestock show|width1=722|height1=480
| image2 = Giant wheels at Pushkar, Rajasthan.jpg | alt2=Fete|width2=480|height2=640
| image3 = Tug of war, at Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan.jpg | alt3= Sports |width3=350|height3=245
| image4 = (2) Faces and colours at Pushkar Fair.jpg | alt4=Ceremonies|width4=2816|height4=2112
| footer = Pushkar fair attracts nearly 200,000 visitors over 7 days.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p539"/><ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/11/14/indias-camel-doctors/ Pushkar Fair] The Wall Street Journal (14 November 2013)</ref>
}}

===Pushkar Fair===
{{Main article|Pushkar Fair}}

Pushkar fair continues for five days and these five days are a period of relaxation and merry-making for the villagers. This fair time is the busiest time for them, as this is one of the largest cattle fairs in the country. Animals, including over 50,000 camels,{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} are brought from distant places around to be traded and sold. All the camels are washed and adorned, some are shorn to form artistic patterns. Some camels, horses, and cows are colorfully decorated.<ref name="Praveen2006p68">{{cite book|author=Ennala Praveen|title=Pushkar: moods of a desert town|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=824wAQAAIAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Rupa & Co.|pages=68–76|isbn=9788129108456}}</ref>

In addition to the animal trading market, Pushkar in parallel holds a festival of folk music and dances, ferris wheels, magic shows, horse and camel races and various other traditional sports and team entertainment competitions. While the Pushkar fair is held around the Kartik Purnima that typically overlaps between late October and early November, other seasons feature other sports and festivals for pilgrims who visit the [[sacred lake]].<ref>[https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/destinations/rajasthan-its-fair-time-in-pushkar/ RAJASTHAN: IT'S FAIR TIME IN PUSHKAR], Outlook Traveller (26 October 2016)</ref><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2015-11-25/pushkar-camel-fair-lights-up-the-indian-thar-desert Pushkar Camel Fair Lights Up the Indian Thar Desert], Bloomberg</ref>

===Sikh Gurdwaras===
[[File:Pushkar Gurdwara, Sikh temple, Rajasthan.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A Sikh Gurdwara in Pushkar]]
Pushkar is a sacred pilgrimage site for Sikhs as well, according to Gurmukh Singh, with Gurdwaras dedicated to [[Guru Nanak]] and [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. These have historic roots, with the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in the eastern part of the town called Guru Nanak Dharamsala, a name common for Sikh shrines before the 20th-century. The Sikh Dharamshala is a two-storeyed building consisting of a central room, surrounded by a verandah.<ref name=eospushkar/>

The second Sikh temple is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh marking his visit after he left [[Anandpur Sahib|Anandpur]] Sahib. Pandit Parmanand took an oath on the holy cow on behalf of Hindu kings and Muslim priest, Qazi Syyed Wali Hassan took an oath on the Quran which was handwritten by Aurangzeb. They promised that if Guru ji leaves Anandpur Sahib then he will not attack Guru ji and everyone can move out of Anandpur Sahib peacefully.<ref name=eospushkar/> The place he stayed in and the lakefront next to it is now called the Gobind Ghat. It has a memorial inscription and this shrine was built with the sponsorship of the Maratha Empire, after the widespread Hindu-Muslim wars in the final decades of Aurangzeb rule and the collapse of the Mughal Empire.<ref name=eospushkar/> The shrine has an old hand written copy of the Sikh scripture, the ''Guru Granth Sahib'' and a ''hukumnama'' believed by Sikhs to have been written by Guru Gobind Singh. Both these have been preserved by a Pushkar Brahmin priest, a descendant of the priest whom the Guru met. The ''hukumnama'' is on a ''bhoj patra'', a method of recording letters in the 18th century.<ref name=eospushkar/>

==== Pushkar Holi ====
Holi takes place in March and it is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. It represents the triumph of good over evil and the coming of springtime. Holi celebrations happen all over India and involve huge jubilant street parties. During Holi, [[Bhang]] (ancient Indian [[cannabis edible]]) is served in Pushkar, which is known to have some of the best Bhang in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170307-the-intoxicating-drug-of-an-indian-god|title = The intoxicating drug of an Indian god}}</ref>

===Other landmarks===
[[File:Ghats at Pushkar lake, Rajasthan.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Ghats]] at Pushkar lake]]
[[File:BrahmaPushkarGurjarPilgrimage.jpg|thumb|The [[Brahma temple at Pushkar]]]]
* '''[[Brahma temple at Pushkar|Brahma Temple]]''' (''Jagatpita Brahma Mandir'') – The most important temple in Pushkar is the temple of Brahma, one of the holy trinity of Hinduism. The temple enshrines a life-size idol of Brahma.

'''Fairs'''
*[[Nagaur]] Fair
*[[Tejaji]] Fair

[[Ajmer]] is the nearest tourist attraction that lies outside the city boundaries of Pushkar. Located 27 kilometres away from Ajmer, there is Kishangarh, famous for its miniature paintings, more popularly known as [[Bani Thani]].{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

'''[[Pushkar Lake]]''' – The prime attraction of Pushkar is the Pushkar Lake which is considered sacred like the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. Pushkar has become a place of Hindu pilgrimage because of this holy lake. Legend has it that this lake was consecrated to Brahma, the creator of the universe when a [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]] dropped from his hand into the vale and a lake emerged in that place.

'''Old Pushkar''' – Old Pushkar lake is rebuilt and is located around 5 km from Pushkar Lake. According to the ancient texts, Old Pushkar has equal cultural and religious significance for the pilgrims.
{{Wide image|Panorama of Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan.jpg|1100px|{{centre|Panoramic view of Pushkar lake}}}}

== See also ==
*[[List of lakes in India]]
*[[Suresh Singh Rawat]] member of the 14th House Representing Pushkar Constituency.
*[[Savitri Mata Mandir]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Pushkar|volume=22}}
*

{{Ajmer district}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pushkar| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Ajmer district]]
[[Category:Tourism in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]

Pushkar - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT: robot: add new article