the lake

Thought behind the thought

Lakes are mysterious entities. Unlike a river, that flows and connects with people along the way, a lake seems to be content with herself, lying still at a place, engrossed in her own thoughts. People who come to her banks rarely ever see the secrets she hides at the bottom. Revealing nothing of herself is probably what the lake is successful at doing.The only thing they get a glimpse of, in the surface, which is merely a reflection of her surroundings!

About art and design

Lakes have been important as a source of water to human civilizations. More so in areas where rainfall is low, and water is a scarcity throughout the year. the western state of Rajasthan in India is one such dry and arid region that depends on stored water for sustenance. Artificial lakes built on the streams and rivers of Rajasthan are excellent examples of traditional rain water harvesting practices. 

What is more important is that a totally utilitarian concept has been made so beautiful by the people of Rajasthan!

Pushkar Sarovar is one of the oldest lakes in India. In fact, it is believed to be the starting point of Yuddhisthira's pilgrimmage in the Epic 'Mahabharat' A lot of inscriptions found at archaelogical sites prove Pushkar's existance since olden times (around 4th century B.C)
It is also one of the most important piligrimmage centres for Hindus, as the temple of the Creator Bramha is located here.

The town of Pushkar is picturesquely situated on the lake, with the hills on three side, the sands, drifted from the plains of Marawar, have formed a complete bar to the waters of the lake, which has no outlet, though the filtration through the sand hills id considerable.The form of lake is irregular elliptical. The lake is fed from the Nag Pahar. Bathing ghats have been constructed round the lake.

Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats (a series of steps leading to the lake), where pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a sacred bath, especially around Kartik Poornima (October–November) when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Over 500 Hindu temples are situated around the lake precincts. The ghats (steps leading to the lake) are not just utilitarian design elements, used for bathing and religious rituals, but an exercise in visual art, Architecture and Landscape design.

Like many other examples of regional architecture of the Indian sub continent, the Pushkar lake brings together people, culture, art and design seamlessly together in a vibrant built environment that respects and enhances  the environment that it is born and lives in! Something that we Indians must look at in this age of environmental crisis. It will be surely worth revisiting our roots and absorbing the wisdom of our ancestors from these relics of Indian design culture.


Credit and source of information
http://pushkarguide.com/pushkar-images-pictures/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushkar_Lake
https://www.facebook.com/pushkarguide/photos/