Tents and livestock of the participants of the Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar, Rajasthan, India; November 5, 2014; The original intention behind the Pushkar Camel Fair was to attract local camel and cattle traders to do business during the holy Kartik Purnima festival, held in Pushkar around the full moon in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. The fair has now also become a major tourist attraction, with the camel trading part being surpassed by a formal program of activities arranged by Rajasthan Tourism.

Tents and livestock of the participants of the Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar, Rajasthan, India; November 5, 2014; The original intention behind the Pushkar Camel Fair was to attract local camel and cattle traders to do business during the holy Kartik Purnima festival, held in Pushkar around the full moon in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. The fair has now also become a major tourist attraction, with the camel trading part being surpassed by a formal program of activities arranged by Rajasthan Tourism.

People bathing in the holy Pushkar lake during the famous Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar, Rajasthan, India; November 5, 2014; Pushkar Lake or Pushkar Sarovar is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe it as "Tirtha-Guru" – the perceptor of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body and relate it to the mythology of the creator-god Brahma, whose most prominent temple stands in Pushkar. The Pushkar Lake finds mention on coins as early as the 4th century BC.

People bathing in the holy Pushkar lake during the famous Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan

Pushkar, Rajasthan, India; November 5, 2014; Pushkar Lake or Pushkar Sarovar is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe it as "Tirtha-Guru" – the perceptor of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body and relate it to the mythology of the creator-god Brahma, whose most prominent temple stands in Pushkar. The Pushkar Lake finds mention on coins as early as the 4th century BC.

Bishnoi man preparing opium tea in a small village in Thar desert, Rajasthan, India

Thar desert, Rajasthan, India; November 4, 2014; The Bishnoi are more of a religious community than an ethnic one. Bishnoi drink opium tea. It is true that the extraction and use of opium is strictly prohibited in India, except for medicinal purposes. Only the Bishnoi have been granted an exemption: on the grounds of religious tradition. Even their guru Jambheshwar prohibited the smoking of tobacco and opium in his twenty-nine commandments – but he said nothing about drinking it.

Young boy making pots in s mall village in Thar desert in Rajastna, India

Thar desert, Rajasthan, India; November 4, 2014; The terracotta tradition in Rajasthan dates back to the Harappan age. Most of these are made in the villages of Rajasthan. A mixture of clay is used to on the potter's wheel and pots of various shapes and sizes are created manually. Patience, concentration and meticulousness are highly required to make the pots. Besides pots and water jars other object of arts, such as, warriors mounted on horses, elephants and their keepers, plaques of deities and votive images are also part of the pottery in Rajasthan.

Young boy making pots in s mall village in Thar desert in Rajastna, India

Thar desert, Rajasthan, India; November 4, 2014; The terracotta tradition in Rajasthan dates back to the Harappan age. Most of these are made in the villages of Rajasthan. A mixture of clay is used to on the potter's wheel and pots of various shapes and sizes are created manually. Patience, concentration and meticulousness are highly required to make the pots. Besides pots and water jars other object of arts, such as, warriors mounted on horses, elephants and their keepers, plaques of deities and votive images are also part of the pottery in Rajasthan.

Man practicing the traditional art of Rajasthani block printing in a textile workshops in Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan, India; November 4, 2014; In Rajasthan, India, generation after generation of families are keeping the art of Rajasthani block printing alive. The cogs of the community are still chhipas (printers), rangrez (dyers) and dhobi (washers), and each family performs just one function in the manufacturing process.

Rajasthani woman preparing traditional food on open fire in a small village in Thar desert, Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan, India; November 4, 2014; Rajasthani cuisine was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this arid region. Scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on the cooking. Rajasthan has 74.9% vegetarians, which makes it the most vegetarian state in India.

Rajasthani woman preparing traditional food on open fire in a small village in Thar desert, Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan, India; November 4, 2014; Rajasthani cuisine was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this arid region. Scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on the cooking. Rajasthan has 74.9% vegetarians, which makes it the most vegetarian state in India.

Camel caretakers preparing camels for riding early in the morning in Thar desert, Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan, India; November 3, 2014; The Thar Desert is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent and forms a natural boundary running along the border between India and Pakistan. This is the world's 18th largest subtropical desert.

People in the lobby of the Raj Mandir Cinema in Jaipur, Rajasthan before the beginning of the movie

Jaipur, October 31, 2014; Raj Mandir Cinema is a movie theatre in Jaipur in Rajasthan state in India. Situated on the Bhagwant Das Road, near M.I. Road, the meringue-shaped auditorium opened in 1976, and over the years has seen many movie premieres of Hindi films, and has become a popular symbol of Jaipur.

A school teacher in a small village in Rajasthan gives sweets to school girls and boys, Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan, India; October 30, 2014; A school teacher in a small village in Rajasthan gives sweets to small school girls and boys. Children from lower caste communities in Rajasthan may be the first in the family to attend school, and don’t get much support at home. While education in state schools is free, there are still some expenses such as paying for uniforms or stationery.