10 photos from India’s latest ‘Pushkar Mela,’ an annual camel trade fair also famous for the longest moustache contest
The festival begins with traders buying or selling camels and horses on a large scale with a religious carnival to conclude the festivities.
![10 photos from India’s latest ‘Pushkar Mela,’ an annual camel trade fair also famous for the longest moustache contest](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-66707123%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-271920%2Fpushkar-mela-trade-business-insider-india.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Every year, around 50,000 camels along with thousands of camel farmers, musicians, folk dancers, and 200,000 tourist descend down in the festival.
![Every year, around 50,000 camels along with thousands of camel farmers, musicians, folk dancers, and 200,000 tourist descend down in the festival.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706789,width-700,height-525,imgsize-381887/pushkar-mela-tourist-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : Rajasthan Tourism)
The Pushkar Camel Fair began over 150 years ago to boost trading in the region, with camel buyers and sellers from as far as Afghanistan attending the fair.
![The Pushkar Camel Fair began over 150 years ago to boost trading in the region, with camel buyers and sellers from as far as Afghanistan attending the fair.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706804,width-700,height-525,imgsize-136569/pushkar-mela-history-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : Rajasthan Tourism)
Today, the festival has become more of a tourist attraction than an actual trade fair
![Today, the festival has become more of a tourist attraction than an actual trade fair](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706817,width-700,height-525,imgsize-99095/pushkar-mela-fair-2018-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : Rajasthan Tourism)
Camels at the fair are decked with colourful accessories and made to compete in beauty and dancing contests.
![Camels at the fair are decked with colourful accessories and made to compete in beauty and dancing contests.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706833,width-700,height-525,imgsize-92133/pushkar-mela-colourful-camel-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : unsplash.com)
The festival also features a camel race
![The festival also features a camel race](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706862,width-700,height-525,imgsize-189350/pushkar-mela-race-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : Rajasthan Tourism)
Camels competing for beauty while unique is accompanied by an even quirkier contest involving men competing for ‘longest mustache’.
![Camels competing for beauty while unique is accompanied by an even quirkier contest involving men competing for ‘longest mustache’.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706882,width-700,height-525,imgsize-157189/camels-competing-for-beauty-while-unique-is-accompanied-by-an-even-quirkier-contest-involving-men-competing-for-longest-mustache-.jpg)
(Photo Source: remotetraveler.com)
A hot air balloon ride is also a popular tourist attraction at the fair.
![A hot air balloon ride is also a popular tourist attraction at the fair.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706912,width-700,height-525,imgsize-65925/pushkar-mela-hot-balloon-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source: Wikipedia.org)
The local government promotes the dying art of puppetry at the fair.
![The local government promotes the dying art of puppetry at the fair.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706947,width-700,height-525,imgsize-285482/pushkar-mela-puppet-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : twitter/my_rajasthan)
Indian musicians perform live at the ‘Pushkar Fair’
![Indian musicians perform live at the ‘Pushkar Fair’](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706893,width-700,height-525,imgsize-337197/pushkar-mela-music-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : unsplash.com)
The ‘Pushkar Fair’ is one of the world’s largest camel fairs.Another big camel fair is the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival that takes place in Rumah, Saudi Arabia.
![The ‘Pushkar Fair’ is one of the world’s largest camel fairs.Another big camel fair is the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival that takes place in Rumah, Saudi Arabia.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-66706973,width-700,height-525,imgsize-262656/pushkar-mela-saudi-arabia-business-insider-india.jpg)
(Photo Source : Rajasthan Tourism)
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