A lively and colorful event, the Camel Festival is organised
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,
bejewelled 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 organised 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.).
