Pushkar, Pushkar Lake, Pushkar Lake Pushkar, Pushkar Lake in Pushkar

Introduction of Pushkar Lake

The picturesque lake of Pushkar is set in a valley just about 11 kilometers northwest of Ajmer. Pushkar Lake is surrounded by hills on three sides and desert on the other side. The cave of Saint Agastya is also located on the snake mountain in Pushkar. Pushkar has also held a major place in the Kalidasa's Sanskrit drama, Abhigyan Shakuntalam. Pushkar is one of the major sacred places for the Hindus. There are about 400 temples and 52 Ghaats in Pushkar which are located on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. On the Pushkar lake you can view various pilgrims bathing in the holy waters and worshipping at the Ghaats. It is believed that the famed

waters of the Pushkar wash away the sins of lifetime. So thousands of pilgrims come to Pushkar on Kartik Purnima (full moon day of the Kartik month) or on any of the four days preceding it and take a bath in the holy waters of the lake. The mystical water is also believed to cure skin diseases, making Pushkar "the Lourdes of the East".

History of Pushkar Lake

There is a great story about the creation of the Pushkar Lake by the Creator God, Bramha. When the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, he in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died with the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where a lake sprung into being. Brahma is supposed to have performed sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month). According to a legend, the lake was formed when Lord Brahma wanted to perform a yagna here.