<p>The recent currency demonetisation seem to have little effect on the Pushkar cattle festival as the number of foreigners attending the fair has seen a spurt this year. <br /><br /></p>.<p>“There are 12,500 foreign registrations (at the fair) this year,” Ajmir’s tourist officer Ratan Lal Tunwal told DH. <br /><br />“In 2015, there were only 11,000 foreigners to the fair. Even after the currency demonetization, new visitors from abroad kept arriving and there were no rescheduling of their travel plans, whereas a dip was seen in the number of domestic tourists.” <br /><br />Several foreigners pranced about in Pushkhar’s streets, showing no signs of the currency crises gripping the nation. <br /><br />Hotels and restaurant have made all arrangements to make them feel at home. “None of the prior bookings by foreigners had been cancelled in our hotel,” said Jagat Singh, proprietor of Jagat Palace Hotel and Royal Desert Camp. We even accommodated the fresh arrival of foreign tourists, as they manage plastic and digital money and online booking. Also, we accept discarded notes in case they have no alternative.”<br /><br />With 8781 cattle, the fair had the lowest presence of animals in recent times. In 2015, the number of cattles to the fair was 9,934, while in 2014 10,048 animals were brought to the event. <br /><br />The number touched a high in 2006 with camels alone accounting for 23,852. “The number of camels this year is only 3,925,” the Joint Secretary at Animal Husbandry department Shyam Sunder said. <br /><br />“The number of horses at the fair was 2499. There were also 429 bullocks, 76 buffalos and 12 sheep. Strikingly, there were more horses than the camels.” <br /><br />Drop in livestock, coupled with dip in domestic tourists, impacted their trade. “Low domestic tourists meant the trade was slightly dull as well,” the Joint Secretary said.<br /><br /> “The demonetisation was a hammer blow since rearers accepted only cash. Even so, 2453 cattle were sold at the fair. The highest bid for a camel was Rs 60,000, while a horse went for Rs 3 lakh.”<br /><br />The fair will conclude on Monday, the auspicious day of Karthik Poornima.<br />DH News Service <br /></p>
<p>The recent currency demonetisation seem to have little effect on the Pushkar cattle festival as the number of foreigners attending the fair has seen a spurt this year. <br /><br /></p>.<p>“There are 12,500 foreign registrations (at the fair) this year,” Ajmir’s tourist officer Ratan Lal Tunwal told DH. <br /><br />“In 2015, there were only 11,000 foreigners to the fair. Even after the currency demonetization, new visitors from abroad kept arriving and there were no rescheduling of their travel plans, whereas a dip was seen in the number of domestic tourists.” <br /><br />Several foreigners pranced about in Pushkhar’s streets, showing no signs of the currency crises gripping the nation. <br /><br />Hotels and restaurant have made all arrangements to make them feel at home. “None of the prior bookings by foreigners had been cancelled in our hotel,” said Jagat Singh, proprietor of Jagat Palace Hotel and Royal Desert Camp. We even accommodated the fresh arrival of foreign tourists, as they manage plastic and digital money and online booking. Also, we accept discarded notes in case they have no alternative.”<br /><br />With 8781 cattle, the fair had the lowest presence of animals in recent times. In 2015, the number of cattles to the fair was 9,934, while in 2014 10,048 animals were brought to the event. <br /><br />The number touched a high in 2006 with camels alone accounting for 23,852. “The number of camels this year is only 3,925,” the Joint Secretary at Animal Husbandry department Shyam Sunder said. <br /><br />“The number of horses at the fair was 2499. There were also 429 bullocks, 76 buffalos and 12 sheep. Strikingly, there were more horses than the camels.” <br /><br />Drop in livestock, coupled with dip in domestic tourists, impacted their trade. “Low domestic tourists meant the trade was slightly dull as well,” the Joint Secretary said.<br /><br /> “The demonetisation was a hammer blow since rearers accepted only cash. Even so, 2453 cattle were sold at the fair. The highest bid for a camel was Rs 60,000, while a horse went for Rs 3 lakh.”<br /><br />The fair will conclude on Monday, the auspicious day of Karthik Poornima.<br />DH News Service <br /></p>