Featured photojournalist: Manish Swarup

Most of the fair's camel herders are from the semi-nomadic Rabari tribe, who make a living rearing animals. They travel for weeks to set up camp in the desert dunes near Pushkar, where they sell their livestock Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

A camel herder stares into the lens. Many have travelled as far as 312 miles Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

Herders prepare tea in the early morning Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

A camel takes its medicine Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

Temperatures in Pushkar can drop below 10C in winter Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

Herders don their best garb ahead of the day's transactions Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

A local holy man watches foreign tourists participate in a 'spiritual walk' Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

Indian artists dance in the same procession Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

A girl performs high-wire tricks for the crowd Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

A recent purchase is encouraged towards the truck Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

A musician and his daughter Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

Hot air balloons carry tourists over the gathering Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

Camels and owners at the fair, the largest of its kind in the world Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP