subject: Bikaner Camel Festival – Feting the Noble Steeds of the Desert [print this page] The desert city of Bikaner in India's state of Rajasthan is famous for its splendid and carefully-preserved heritage. The Suraj Pol, Junagarh Fort, Lal Garh Palace and the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum are chief highlights among its cultural draws. However, Bikaner is also famed for its fierce pride in the traditional culture, the flames of which is kept alive and well year after year by a myriad of cultural festivities devoted to the celebration and honouring of age-old customs and lifestyle that have serviced its people throughout their history. The Bikaner Camel Festival is one such event. Being located at the heart of Rajasthan's desert belt, the lands of Bikaner would have been virtually impenetrable by man before the advent of motor vehicles and locomotives, if it were not for the "ship of the desert" the camel. This animal of unmatched natural endurance and fortitude against the most adverse of elements was instrumental for the survival and trade of the land's historical human settlers. Even in the rail and motorway ridden terrain of modern-day Bikaner, camels remain a common mode of transport and a highly prized asset in battle. The Bikaner army continues to use an elite corps of camel-back riders called the Ganga Risala, who made an active contribution even in the Indo-Pakistani war of the mid 1960s, not to mention both the World Wars. The city enjoys the distinction of housing the only camel-breeding centre in India, exemplifying how integral these animals still are to the culture and lifestyle of its citizens. It is, therefore, quite natural that Bikaner should also be famous for its Camel Festival, which is held every January under the purview of the Rajasthan government's Tourism Department. Hosted against the magnificent backdrop of the Junagarh Fort, the festival is dedicated to underlining and celebrating the services of these graceful steeds. Replete with gorgeous performances and local talent showcasing the state's folk artistry, music and pageantry, the festival is a great draw for crowds from all over India and the world. The two-day festival kicks off with a procession of camels, all of whom have been gorgeously bedecked with jewels and dressed by their proud owners. The Camel Dance Performance is one of the festival's major highlights, as hundreds of these deceptively large and placid creatures amaze the spectators with their deft footwork and graceful charm, as they perform to the direction of their drivers, their anklets and jewels sparkling and tinkling in time to the music. The second day sees the renowned camel race, an event which is among the most anticipated in the state of Rajasthan. Given the atmosphere of competitive fever, with thousands cheering for their favourite contenders, as well as the fleet-footed yet capricious nature of the animals themselves, there is bound to be some unexpected hilarious or thrilling turn of events every year. The principal events are complemented by a host of cultural performances by both emerging talent and renowned artists in the region of Rajasthan. The bejewelled grace and exuberance of the skirt-swirling dances and the fascination of the fire dancers in particular hold the audiences spellbound, as refreshments and tea made of camel milk flow steadily through the crowd. The festival sees a grand denouement at the end of the second day, with a jubilant fireworks display that blots out the stars of the velvet desert sky. This is one of the red-letter events tourists staying in Jaisalmer hotels will not want to miss. Suryagarh Jaisalmer is one of the luxury Rajasthan hotels that has gained a well-deserved reputation among the various accommodation options in and around Jaisalmer, recreating the iconic Rajput grandeur as well as a range of modern facilities for their guests.
Bikaner Camel Festival Feting the Noble Steeds of the Desert
By: Pushpitha Wijesinghe
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