Ajmer: From Ekadashi, which is on Tuesday, the mystic rituals will start at the Pushkar Fair in the holy town and hundreds of sadhus, mostly Nagas come to perform these rituals. The most important is 'Panch Tirath Snana' that is meant to cleanse the soul. The ritual will be on till November 3. Naga sadhus on this occasion perform a ritual to include new disciples into their sect.
On Monday, hundreds of sadhus came to Pushkar, either on foot or by bus and went to different ghats to perform rituals. Though cattle fair is the major charm of the Pushkar Fair, the coming together of Naga sadhus and performing rituals also attracts the locals and tourists alike. "It's a very old practice in which pupils participate in the fair and on the day of full moon (Poornima) they are included in the sect," said Mokham Sadhu, a member of the Naga sect.
These sadhus can be seen at different ghats, animatedly discussing their theories and knowledge. "Basically, they don't divulge the activities of their sect and the rituals they follow. They do not believe in black magic," said Umesh Ojha, a shopkeeper near Pushkar ghats.
According to locals, these sadhus come every year and do not disturb devotees or people, they simply perform their rituals mostly during night and start returning after full moon.
The 'Panch Tirath Snana' is important where every devotee and pilgrim and sadhus will take a dip in the holy water of Pushkar pond and later visit the temple. "The importance of this bath is that those who are unable to visit the sacred places as mentioned for Hindus can get the same benefit by taking a dip here on this specific day," said a pilgrim.
Most of the tourists who come to Pushkar are attracted by the mysticism of these sadhus and try to figure out their culture and tradition. "We are fascinated by them when we see them sitting silently on the ghats at night. They perform their rituals without disturbing anyone," said French tourist Olivia Colive who is studying tradition and culture in India for the last six months. As there is no Brahma sect or tradition in India, like that of Vishnu or Shiva, the only ritual here is the holy bath. "Earlier the bath had scientific importance because Pushkar Pond is surrounded by Naga Hills which have Ayurvedic herbs. When the rain water poured from these hills during monsoon it brought with it medicinal qualities which then entered the pond," said Harbans Singh Dua, a government doctor.
But now because of the pollution and drying up of Pushkar pond, the administration has to pump Bisalpur water to the tanks constructed around the pond for performing this symbolic bath on this occasion. The last ritual will be the Shahi bath in which sadhus from different sects will take a dip in the holy water.
On Monday, hundreds of sadhus came to Pushkar, either on foot or by bus and went to different ghats to perform rituals. Though cattle fair is the major charm of the Pushkar Fair, the coming together of Naga sadhus and performing rituals also attracts the locals and tourists alike. "It's a very old practice in which pupils participate in the fair and on the day of full moon (Poornima) they are included in the sect," said Mokham Sadhu, a member of the Naga sect.
These sadhus can be seen at different ghats, animatedly discussing their theories and knowledge. "Basically, they don't divulge the activities of their sect and the rituals they follow. They do not believe in black magic," said Umesh Ojha, a shopkeeper near Pushkar ghats.
According to locals, these sadhus come every year and do not disturb devotees or people, they simply perform their rituals mostly during night and start returning after full moon.
The 'Panch Tirath Snana' is important where every devotee and pilgrim and sadhus will take a dip in the holy water of Pushkar pond and later visit the temple. "The importance of this bath is that those who are unable to visit the sacred places as mentioned for Hindus can get the same benefit by taking a dip here on this specific day," said a pilgrim.
Most of the tourists who come to Pushkar are attracted by the mysticism of these sadhus and try to figure out their culture and tradition. "We are fascinated by them when we see them sitting silently on the ghats at night. They perform their rituals without disturbing anyone," said French tourist Olivia Colive who is studying tradition and culture in India for the last six months. As there is no Brahma sect or tradition in India, like that of Vishnu or Shiva, the only ritual here is the holy bath. "Earlier the bath had scientific importance because Pushkar Pond is surrounded by Naga Hills which have Ayurvedic herbs. When the rain water poured from these hills during monsoon it brought with it medicinal qualities which then entered the pond," said Harbans Singh Dua, a government doctor.
But now because of the pollution and drying up of Pushkar pond, the administration has to pump Bisalpur water to the tanks constructed around the pond for performing this symbolic bath on this occasion. The last ritual will be the Shahi bath in which sadhus from different sects will take a dip in the holy water.
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