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CAMEL'S DAY OUT
The Camel Festival
 The
annual camel festival has just come to a close, but the dust
it has kicked up has still not settled down. This colorful
event takes place in the month of January every year in the
ancient walled city of Bikaner. Hundreds of thousands of people
converge on Bikaner to celebrate this gentle beast called
the Ship-of-the-Desert. This year, the event was held on January
27 and 28.
 The
enchanting desert city comes to life with joyous music, lilting
rhythms and gay festivities. A mix of fun, traditon, song
and dance, the festival begins against the sandstone backdrop
of the Junagarh fort with a colorful parade of camels, bedecked
from head to toe with jewels, bridles, anklets and mirrors..
The camels make a pretty picture against the endless stretch
of desert. Once the procession reaches the open stretches
of the Polo Grounds, the major festivities begin. Men and
camels together perform amazing feats - camel races, camel
milking, best breed competition, best fur cutting design,
camel polo, tug of war, camel dances, acrobatics, camel bands
and even a camel beauty competition!
 As
evening falls, strains of music along with the foot tapping
rhythm of the Gair dancers fill the air. The camels too display
amazing foot-work, dancing gracefully to the slightest direction
of their riders. The ground, lit up with tiny lamps, casts
a magical spell with the shadows of lanky camels and the swirling
skirts of the Gair dancers. Folk artistes play traditional
instruments. The celebrations conclude with the awe-inspiring
fire dance and a dazzling display of fireworks.
Organised by the Department of Tourism, Art
and Culture, Rajasthan, the Camel Festival in Bikaner is a
veritable blend of color, rhythm and melody
If you missed it this time, be sure to be
in Bikaner on January 17 and 18 next year.
Location:
Bikaner is located in the southern part of Rajasthan. The
district is well connected by Road & NH-15, NH-11 and
the railway network.
Distance: 249 kms from Jodhpur. Nearest
railhead/airport: Bikaner/Bikaner.
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