India – The Marwari horse & Pushkar Fair – Rajasthan

For those wishing to visit the Rajasthan area, what better opportunity than the Pushkar Fair ?? !! …. In the Hindu month of kartik (full moon period in November ), ten days after the Diwali festival, this traditional cattle-selling fair begins, during which this quiet town and its surroundings come alive. Campsites and tents appear to accommodate thousands of pilgrims, tourists and locals with herds of cattle: horses and camels gathering to participate in the spectacular event.

Pushkar has always been the main livestock market in the region and local breeders participate in it to buy and sell camels, cattle and horses. The turnover has increased enormously over the years so that, now, the Pushkar Fair is one of the largest livestock fairs in Asia and turns the placid town into a chaotic market. On the outskirts, in the vast specially built amphitheater, camel, horse and donkey competitions are held, incited by the loud shouts of the spectators.

The atmosphere is festive and noisy for two weeks in Pushkar. Huge ferris wheels and open-air theaters entertain the public, who flock to the food stalls and shops with their fascinating variety of wares. In the evening, crowds gather around the bivouacs to listen to the bewitching melodies of popular ballads. The fair reaches its peak on the night of the full moon (purnima) when pilgrims immerse themselves in the sacred lake . At dusk, during the ceremony, terracotta lamps are lit on leaf boats and placed on the magical expanse of the lake. Discover now all our travels, tours, holidays and horse trekking in India. Back to horses… The Wonderful and unique Marwari horses, whose origin is lost in myth and legend but the first archaeological dating of its presence in the Indus civilizations dates back to between 6,000 and 5,000 BC. Their name derive from their land of origin, Marwar (Land of Death), in the area of Rajasthan. This horse, which has enjoyed a protection program by the Indian government since 1952, is bred almost exclusively in the desert areas of Rajasthan. Medium-sized, the Marwari horse has an elegant appearance and a proud yet graceful bearing. Versatile, intelligent and lively . Accustomed to the rigors of the inhospitable desert climate, it bears well the strong temperature variations, the scarcity of water and food.

Estimated by the ancient warriors of the Rajput for its incredible resistance, the Marwari breed of horses is characterized by their adaptation to any type of climatic situation, by their good speed, and by their elegant bearing. The height for the stallions varies from 145 to 169 cm, and for the bloodmares from 142 to 163 cm; the coat is bay, gray or piebald. The head is overall elegant, with a medium light muzzle and delicate lips. The forehead is open and wide between the eyes. Soft and medium-sized (from 10 to15 cm), the ears of the Marwari touch at the apex, curving inwards and can have a rotation of 180 °. The eyes are large, round and set wide apart with an intelligent and docile expression.

The round nostrils are wide, dilated and sensitive. The jaws are well defined and prominent. The neck, which joins the head and the withers at a 45 ° angle, is well proportioned, muscular and carried high. The withers are of medium height and well defined while the shoulder is elongated and muscular. The medium-sized chest is deep. The hocks are clean, accentuated, robust, set high and enveloped by thin epithelium. Forearms and legs are strong, perpendicular and slightly protruding when viewed from the side. The extensors and flexors are powerful and sharply defined. The hocks are rounded and robust with a short, strong and forward-reaching pastoral. The hooves are hard and strong. The tail is well set and carried high. Travel with Go Horse and discover these remote lands riding the legendary Marwari horses!!!!! http://www.gohorse.it/viaggi/safari-in-rajasthan/