For the next five days, the tiny town of Pushkar in Northern India, will become the hub of festivities as thousands of pilgrims, tourists and camels gather here for the annual Camel Festival. What began as a way to blend faith and trade, has become one of the most colorful and festive occasions, in the otherwise drab landscape, amid the deserts of Rajasthan.

Since the camel trade still dominates the fair, these stately animals take center stage for much of the five-day festival. As many as 15,000 of them converge here to be traded, or simply dressed up and paraded in the beauty contests, where the most elegant one takes the trophy. For the more athletic camels, there is even a race that is cheered on loudly by the spectators.

Not into camels? Not a problem - the festival offers something for everyone. Colorfully decorated shops stock traditional clothing and jewelry, for those wishing to shop. For those seeking more adventure, there are numerous tatoo parlors set up. Children attending the festival are kept occupied for hours by acrobats, magicians, jugglers and snake charmers who all come to town especially for this event. In the evening, visitors are entertained by traditional folk dances and music, performed by both men and women.

The last two days of the festival are dedicated to prayers to Lord Brahma, who according to the Hindu scriptures, is the creator of the Universe. On these days, the pilgrims bathe in the waters of the Pushkar Lake, which is considered very holy, in an attempt to absolve all their sins. Every evening, the lake glows with thousands of oil lamps placed across it, in honor of Lord Brahma.

The festival conculdes with a beautiful prayer ceremony, after which all the visitors start to head home, and Pushkar returns to being the quiet town with a population of 11,000, until it all begins again the following year.

sources;liveindia.com, rajasthantravelguide.com