Like the rest of India, festivals play a major role in the Rajasthani way of life, and one of the most important, definitely the most dramatic and colorful festivals of them all is the gathering at Pushkar. All over India temples abound dedicated to two of the Indian Trinity of creation: Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. At Pushkar is the only temple dedicated to the all-powerful Brahma the creator. To bathe in the ghats at Pushkar offers great sanctity. Around the eleventh full moon of every year (Hindu lunar calendar) is a week long festival when everyone in Rajasthan congregates at Pushkar bringing with them, camels to barter with, goats and cows to trade, pottery, jewelry and other fine handicrafts to sell. It is indeed a time of festivity, of music and dance, of trade and barter, and of religious observance. Pushkar is located about a 3 hour drive from Jaipur. The 10-day gathering takes place some time between mid-October to late November. In 2012, professional photographer Lewis Kemper. will be guiding a Photo Tour to Pushkar, departing the USA on November 18.