(Pushkar) India’s biggest camel fair on Tuesday brought together only hundreds of herders and their animals in Pushkar, a city in the north of the country that annually drains thousands of Hindu pilgrims, cattle traders and breeders for this event, canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
At this gathering in the desert state of Rajasthan, traditional communities of camel herders sometimes travel hundreds of kilometers from their remote villages to sell their animals.
The fair opened for thirteen days on Monday and coincides, according to the Hindu calendar, with several auspicious days, drawing crowds to this lake-side town.
“Pushkar concerns both the cattle trade and Hindu religious rituals,” Prafull Mathur, of the Rajasthan livestock department, told AFP.
“The COVID-19 situation has not completely normalized, but we still expect a good turnout,” he added.
Usually, competitions for camel breeders are held, being a major attraction for tourists from all over the country and around the world. Only the government has not yet decided on their authorization this year, with regard to COVID-19.
This fair is the only opportunity for pastoralists – mostly nomads living in the desert – to pocket cash income and maintain their way of life throughout the rest of the year.
Dromedaries are mainly sold to residents of the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh who use them on their farms or as a means of transport.
Other domestic animals, especially horses, are also sold at the fair.
Indian security forces deployed along the line of control with Pakistan also use camels to patrol remote areas.
To help isolated pastoralist communities diversify their income, the government is trying to promote camel milk, leather, and camel bone products. The Raikas, a community in the Pushkar region, believe that the Hindu god Shiva has chosen to entrust their community with the responsibility of this breeding.