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Camel
Festival
A unique blend of color, rhythm and melody. The
Camel Festival begins with a colorful
procession of bedecked camels,
Ships-Of-The-Desert, in the red sandstone
backdrop of the Junagarh Fort.
The festivity advances to the open
sand spreads
of the Polo Grounds, followed by camel races,
camel milking, fur cutting design, the best
breed competition, camel acrobatics, camel bands
and watching all this, are the gaping
spectators. The camel display amazing foot-work,
dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of
their riders.
Colorful bridles, bejeweled necks, jingling
anklets and long, lanky camel shadows on dusky
sands, cast a magic spell. The jubilant,
skirt-swirling Gair dancers, the awe inspiring
Fire dance, and dazzling fire-works light up the
fortified desert city of Bikaner.
A lively and
colorful event, the Camel Festival is
organized
by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture,
Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is just
the right month for a desert spree, and Bikaner
just the right place to see the Ships of the
Desert. In the camel country Bikaner, these
desert leviathans pull heavy cart loads,
transport grain and even work at the wells.
 The Camel Festival
begins with a colorful procession of bedecked
camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the
Junagarh Fort, the festivity advances to the
open sand-spreads of the grounds, followed by
the best breed competition, the tug-of-war
contest, camel dance and acrobatics, etc.
The camels display
amazing footwork, dancing gracefully to the
slightest direction of their trainers. Bridal,
bridles, bejeweled necks, jingling anklets and
long, lanky camel shadows on dusky sands cast a
magical spell. Hundreds of tourists and
thousands of locals and dignitaries revel in
this man-and-animal affair organized especially
for the tourists.
The evenings close
with a different tenor and tempo altogether: a
traditional rendezvous of renowned artistes of
Rajasthan and the local folk performers.
The jubilant
skirt-swirling dancers, the awe inspiring fire
dance, and the dazzling fireworks light up the
fortified desert city of Bikaner.
Bikaner is
connected by rail and road with all the major
cities. The nearest airport is at Jodhpur (243 kms.)
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