Fast Facts
Venue: Bikaner, Rajasthan
Significance: Tourist Festival
Duration of Festival: 2 days
Month of Celebration: January
Next Date of Event: 10 11 January 2009 and 30 to 31 December
2009 (for next year)
Reaching There: Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe buses
from Delhi (Bikaner House, Near India Gate) to Bikaner. Trains link it to
important cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Jodhpur.
About Camel Festival

Organized
by the Department of Tourism of Bikaner, Art and Culture and Government of
Rajasthan, the Camel Festival is an impetus for tourism in Bikaner. Every
year in January, people flock the place to witness the rapture of exclusive
camel fair. The festival is dedicated to Camel, the ship of the desert. At
the backdrop of massive
forts and lavish palaces, the fair is held to pep up
the mundane desert life. The spectators are delighted to see the camels
dancing to the tunes of their master s and trainers.
As the city of
Bikaner is domineeringly a desert city, the significance of
camel is much. The desert folk understands this and as a result they
decorate their camels on the day of fair and display their camels with much
proud. A visual treat for the beholders is the lovely procession of
elegantly draped camels. This bewitching camel procession heralds the
festival and other attractions of the fair do follow naturally.
The lands of Bikaner have always
been invincible and unaccessible. Before the modern means of transport were
introduced to the city, camel was the prominent source of mobility. The
grace, sturdiness, and tolerance prowess of the camels made them more
popular among desert folks. It is known that the city had an elite camel
troop that actively participated in both of World Wars. During Indo-Pak wars
a camel unit 'Ganga Risala' took part. The city is proud to house the only
Camel breeding farm in India.
Attractions of Camel Festival
A tourist's delight is the sight of attempts and diligence the trainers put
in. But more importantly, the camel's dancing on the tunes of their
trainers. The astounding footwork they display is a sight to cherish.
Adorned with bridles, necks bejeweled and tinkling anklets, the camels
attract the tourists. The evening of the fair becomes alive with excellent
performances of artist and
folk dancers.
The dancers leave you spellbound with the dancing skills. The fire dancers
compel you bite your nails when they balance burning lamps on their
foreheads while dancing. Besides, tug-of-war contests, camel dance
competitions, puppet shows, acrobats, competition of best breed of camel
entice the tourists.