A camel fair is held in Pushkar each year for five days up to and including the Kärttika Pürëimä, the full-moon night of the month of Kärttika (October–November). Since this had long been the time when the most people visited the holy place for a sacred bath, it was natural that pilgrims would use the occasion as a chance to trade. What began with a few small, unplanned exchanges has grown into the largest camel fair in the world.

A tent city spreads out on the plains west of Puskar, and a grand festival takes place, complete with camel traders, horse traders, snake charmers, camel races, ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, handicrafts shops, ash-covered holy men, brightly clad Rajasthanis practically all the color and excitement of the culture of Rajasthan. The fair attracts about 200,000 people, along with their 50,000 cows, camels, horses, and water buffaloes.