PUSHKAR: The fact that almost 70% people of India, especially the agrarian lot, remain unaffected by the global slowdown is more than evident from 
the volume of trade at the Pushkar cattle fair. Just five days’ statistics, with three more days to go, show business transaction of Rs 9.14 crore against the Rs 7.72 crore in the last fair. 

Dr S S Chandawat, deputy director of animal husbandry, said, “The cattle this time have fetched the owners more than the previous years. If the highest price that a camel fetched was Rs 37,500 last year, the highest price this year so far is Rs 51,000. The same is with the horses. Last year, the highest price was Rs 1.25 lakh but this year the Marwari horse sold for 1.50 lakh.” 

But while the cattle traffic is visibly affected this year, the tourist inflow is pretty much the same, both a positive indication. All inclusive the fair this year has 19,681 cattle which is almost a 20% drop than the last year. “But that’s a good sign. We do not have a drought like situation this time when the owners want to get rid of their cattle in a difficult to manage situation, with lesser fodder,” affirmed Chandawat. 

Despite that, Pushkar seamed like a sea of the ‘ships of the desert’ aka camels. As far as the eye could take it was just the hoofs and distinctive aquiline head of the Marwari horses. The most popular fair in Rajasthan apparently is said to be as old as 1962 according to the animal husbandry department. But it was only in 1968 that American ambassador Charles Galbraith’s wife happened to visit the fair with friends. And that set the ball rolling. 

But even while the momentum picked up, not much has changed at the fair. “The income that the animal husbandry department generates is only Rs 8 for the horse and Rs 5 per trading of the camel, the same as what we used to get per transaction in 1962. We need to relook at the Act,” said Chandawat. 

However, the only income that came to the department from the fair that was essentially their forte being cattle fair was by way of putting up stalls and tents that now has been taken over by the district administration. “Last year, we made about Rs 3.2 lakh, but this year so far we’ve got only Rs 50,000,” said Chandawat. 

The fair is gradually being “rurbanised” feel visitors. The stalls at Rs 1200 each are gradually taking over the cattle areas. So while the Vikas Pradarshini showcasing the government’s achievements had to be done away with this time, the tourism department put up the ‘Shilp Gram’ and the administration about 80 stalls showcasing rural handicrafts. 

But despite the involvement of the departments of animal husbandry and tourism as well as the district administration and municipal corporation, there is little management that can be seen at the fair. Men and women bathe and defecate in the open, there are no bins leading to litter all over the sand and there is no option for the tourists to grab a bite at the fair. 

And if you walk your way to the ghats, poor crowd management will instantly remind you of the temple tragedy at Jodhpur. 

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