AJMER BIRD FAIR !

AJMER BIRD FAIR

PADHARO MAHAARE DES – the clarion call of  Rajasthan Tourism has reached everywhere and well accepted even by the winged creatures from faraway lands, which have been making landings in ever-increasing numbers over Anasagar, a perennial lake in the heart of Heritage City, Ajmer, making it a hotspot of avifaunal diversity. To welcome and celebrate their arrival. A three day Bird Fair was organized around the Anasagar Lake, between 17 and 19 January 2017.

          As a joint initiative of Rajasthan patrika, District Administration, and Ajmer Development Authority, the idea of organizing the Bird Fair was also to sensitize and create awareness among the natives towards these feathered guests. The programme included drawing and painting competition, photography competition and address by ornithologists. The visitors who came for ‘bird watching’ were provided with binoculars and guided by the members of the Birds Conservation Society.

          Avid bird lovers and environmentalists spotted a number of bird species that flocked Anasagar this Ruff, Stints (little, black-winged). Herons (little, green, pond), White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Avocer, Cormorants (greater, little, Indian), Long-tailed Shrike, Egrets (great, intermediate, little). Common Sandpiper, Wagtails (yellow, grey, citrine, pied), White-breasted water hen, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Eurasian collared Dove, and Little Grebe, to name a few.

          The real treat for the eyes were the pod of Great white Pelican, and indeed Flamingoes that have reappeared after giving a miss for two years.

          Ajmer, nestled in the laps of one of the oldest mountain ranges – the Aravalis, is on the path to becoming a smart city, and is well known for historical and religious reasons. It has now added a new dimension to its hospitality. The success of the Bird Fair has prompted the authorities to develop this hotspot for Bird Tourism. If this concept takes wings, then it would be the maiden flight of Ajmer into the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

          Of course, the understanding and whole hearted participation of one and  all in nurturing this thought process would decide whether the people of Ajmer have imbibed Atithi Devo Bhava, in its true spirit.