Page 14 - india

the full moon during the Hindu lunar into their fur. Then they are paraded in
month of Kartika. In the last decade or beauty contests, raced around an arena
so, the event has become a major tourist and, of course, traded. Interspersed are
attraction -- a kaleidoscopic camel–filled exotic acts out of Indiana Jones mov-
extravaganza that boggles the mind and ies including snake charmers, dancing
assaults the senses. monkeys, magicians and acrobats. Any-
where a crowd circles, some street enter-
For us, the this traditional Indian event tainment is underway.
was like an exotic county fair with
brightly painted people in colorful Rolling sand dunes abutting the fair
robes, vendors hawking strange-looking grounds are dotted with tents and an
food and drink, and dusty fields roamed assortment of RVs where herders, trad-
by camels, regal race horses and motor- ers and their families camp during the
cycles. Amusement rides and evening fair. For some, the journey there has
entertainment competed for attention taken over three weeks. Kids play while
with hundreds of booths that line the women tend campfire and cook or wash
streets, selling everything from wooden clothes in large pots of water filled at
pitch forks in use in the region for thou- the troughs for livestock. In addition to
sand years to colorful horse and camel camels and a few sheep and goats, the
gear, rhinestone-studded bangles, tra- fair is a showcase for the stunning white
ditional Indian dress and housewares. and black Merwari horses native to In-
Music and motorcycle horns blared dia. These hardy creatures can be identi-
above it all. fied by the distinctive curve of their ears.

In the surging crowds, different clans Left: A handsome camel surveys the scene at the fair.
could be identified by their dress. Men Top: A vendor roasting peanuts. Opposite top left: An
wore turbans in fluorescent greens, or- ancient tea vendor takes a break in the shadows. Right
anges and other hues that linked them top: Women in tribal colors look for bargains. Opposite
to a religion or geographical area. Wom- bottom left: Turbaned desert tribesmen enjoy the
en strolled by in elegant, rainbow-col- fair with their families. Bottom right: Vendors sell
ored saris – a look I love.
hand-crafted pitch forks that were similar to ones used
Like county fairs everywhere, the fes- in ancient times.
tival shows off the region’s agriculture
and husbandry. Here camels are painted,
dressed in colorful, fringed gear and dec-
orated with geometric designs shaved

14 Wine Dine & Travel Spring 2014