Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan

Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan, India. The fair attracts hundreds of Rabadi herdsmen who buy and sell many thousands of camels here each year However because of rain in recent days many sellers are reporting that trade is worse than usual and that many farmers who would be buyers have chosen to remain with and protect their freshly harvested crops (typically groundnut and millet) rather than travel to the fair. Wholesale merchants who bring anywhere from 15 to 70 camels to sell at the fair can travel for up to 2 weeks from across Rajasthan Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

This young camel has been sold, identifiable to the buyer by his necklace Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Jagdish Rabari and his extended family (from Bavasia village in Nagaur, Rajasthan) eat breakfast alongside some of the 70 camels they have brought to the fair for sale. They have so far sold only 25 camels – sales are poor this year
Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Buyers always check the camel's teeth, a sign of good pedigree and good health Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Bhairav, from Pali, Rajasthan (red turban) and his two partners are ready to pay around 15,000 rupees for this camel, about £200 Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Camel trading is almost exclusively dominated by men. One of the jobs for local women is to constantly circle the fairgrounds collecting camel dung and take it to a 'dung shop' where it is laid out and dried. The camel owners and other fairgoers buy back the dung as fuel for cooking fires Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Individual markings on the camel's face identify the town or village they hail from, as well as the trader or breeder
Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Camels at a water trough Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

A camel has its hair trimmed
Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

A fairgoer smokes a traditional pipe Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

A Raika herdsman trims the ear hair of one of a camels before showing it for sale Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Bhairav, from Pali, Rajasthan (red turban, centre) and his partner look at camels for purchase in the wholesale area Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Buyers typically hail from across the north-western states of India. These days many more female camels are being sold, the higher prices they command compared to male camels is due to increased demand for camel milk as well as their added value for breeding Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Jagadish Rabadi, from Bavasia in Nagaur, Rajasthan, kisses one of the 70 camels he has brought to sell. Although he has so far sold 25 he remains less than happy with trade Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian