About Camel Festival

For two days every year in the month of January, the city of Bikaner comes alive with the celebration of the Camel Festival. The festival is organised by the Art and craft Department of Rajasthan Tourism with an intention of attracting more and more tourists to this city which is famous for its camels. Actually, camel has a very significant place in the history of Bikaner. In earlier times when technology was not advanced and when motor cars were still to roll out on roads in India, reaching Bikaner was an arduous task. Had it been a plain region like the many of the cities of the country, then transportation problems would have been minimal. However, Bikaner lies in the desert region and hence no other animal, with the exception of camel, could afford a comfortable foray into its heart. Hence, camel became an intrinsic part of the lives of the people who depended on it to ferry not only humans but also goods. Today, even when cars have taken away much of pressure from our Ship of Desert, camels continue to hold their place intact. Infact, it will not be wrong to say that the Camel Festival is also a sort of recognition of the importance of camel in this region and their tremendous contribution in easing up life here.

Attractions of the Festival

The festival starts off with a parade of beautifully decorated camels from the Junagarh Fort. The camel owners make sure that their camels do not look lesser than the other camels. They decorate the camels with colourful bridles and saddles and tie anklets around the feet. The processions comes out in the open where the festivity takes another step forward. Competitions begin to judge the best breed camel, best decorated camel and best fur cut design of camel. Contest for camel milking and best camel hair cut bring a little focus on human beings, however, it is soon disappeared because there is a camel dance contest as well! This is perhaps the only time when the camels turn dancer, and that too a good one! Swaying to the direction of their masters, they surprise even their fiercest critics by their graceful moves. The audience cheers the camels with their applause while the anklets express their appreciation by tinkling along with every step.

Next day is even more exciting because this is the time when camels turn a bit competitive and throw a challenge before their brethrens to defeat them in a race. With loudest of cheers from their supporters, the camels rush to reach their finishing point. The winner, ofcourse, is a cynosure of all eyes. Sometimes there is a bit of entertainment during the race when the camels refuse to even get up, leave alone running towards the finishing post. The owners prodding their camels to make a move can present a very hilarious scene. Similarly, many a times camel make a U-turn in the midst of the race and come back to the starting point!

Both the evenings culminate with the finest of dance performances from the local artists. In addition, the dazzling fireworks at the conclusion of the festival add to its glittering charm. During the two day festival, sweets prepared from the milk of camel satisfies the sweet tooth of the visitors.

To conclude, the festival is a time when the people of Bikaner come out of their home to be part of a colourful and exciting festival. It is a time when the owner and his camel synchronise their efforts to emerge victorious in all the competitions. And above all, it is a time when tourists flock in large number to witness the rural lifestyle and culture of the Rajasthan.

Camel Festival of Bikaner

ndia is known for being the largest democratic country of the world and there by the country has number of fairs and fests that makes it happening on the world map. Some fest are just weird and some are deep rooted to the heritage and culture.

Bikaner Camel Festival is weird and yet deep rooted. Held in Bikaner Rajasthan, the fair is organized by Department of Tourism, Art and Culture. This is a charming fest that showcases the culture of Rajasthan in subtle way. A great way to experience something raw straight from the rustic village of Rajasthan. The fest also give opportunities to shopaholics who could indulge in shopping some handicraft material from this place.

As the name suggest the major attractions of the fest are the camels. They are at their best and display some unusual stunts that you wouldn't find it happening on any other days. That includes the Camel Race, Dances and even a beauty peagent!, exclusively for camels. Evenings adds charm to the fest. Various musical concerts, dances and puppet show increase the interest of the traveller by many fold.

About Pushkar Camel Fair 2009 (Pushkar Fair Date 2009- Oct 30 - Nov 02, 2009)

Every year thousands of devotees throng the lake around the full moon day of Kartik Purnima in October-November to take a holy dip in the lake. Huge and colorful cattle fair "The Pushkar Fair", is also held during this time. Pushkar fair is well-known for it's Camel trading and other attractive activities.
The Cattle Fair of Pushkar is the spotlight of an Indian holiday. It's during this period that the population of 14,000 swells to over 200,000 while the festival hosts over 50,000 camles which are sold, raced and decorated. You can observe devotees taking a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake and seeking blessings at the only Brahma Temple. Rajasthan also have many. festival and fairs. Some of the popular fairs are Pushkar Camel and Cattle fair held annually in November, Camel Festival Pushkar you will spy the vibrant colors of the Camel and Cattle fair. Imaginations blossom via jazzy color combinations and resplendent vignettes, portraying lifestyles of enigmatic elven figures. The famous Pushkar fair is a major camel festival in India.
One of the most popular and colorful fairs of the Thar desert is the Pushkar fair, which begins on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi & goes on for five days till Kartik Purnima. The time of the fair coincides with the bright half of the moon during the months of October-November. The lake at Pushkar is one of the most sacred in India.
Travel to the holy place, Pushkar, lies in the breast pocket of two major cities of Rajasthan: Jaipur (139 km) and Ajmer (13 km). Rajasthan State Transport Corporation runs comfortable deluxe buses, in every 15 minutes, which connects Jaipur and Ajmer, from Jaipur main bus stand. You can also fly up to Jaipur, and then cuddle up in a taxi until the gritty sands of Pushkar welcomes you. Well connected to all major destinations of the country by broad gauge lines, Ajmer station is bis by your side if you are traveling by train. Pushkar is a relatively small town and it is easy enough to loiter around on foot. Without the opportunity to hire an auto-rickshaw, you can even go for a bicycle.

Pushkar Fair & Festival Activities 2009

Dance music and colorful shops spring up during this fair. Also on sale are mouth-watering traditional delicacies. Colorfully attired village folk enhance the fun of the occasion.
A host of cultural event against the backdrop of this pretty setting is also organized including attractive puppet shows. Cattle auction and camel races are also a part of the festivities.

Pushkar Fair & Festival History

Pushkar is among the five Dhams or pilgrimages that are held in high esteem by Hindus, the others being Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka.
It is said that in battle lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower, whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three places in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up. According to legends, Pushkar Lake was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces (several rajas and maharajas maintained palaces here for pilgrimage) at one point.
The Brahma temple is the most important temple here and is, in fact, the only Brahma temple of India. It is interesting to note that Brahma is not worshipped, even though he is one of the Holy Trinity of Hinduism. Brahma, it is said, had descended on earth to perform a Yajna (fire-sacrifice). His wife Savitri was not with him at that time and the Yajna would be incomplete without her. Therefore, Brahma married a local girl and sat down for the Yajna. Meanwhile Savitri landed on earth and, upon finding this new bride sitting next to Brahma, cursed him that he would never be worshipped anywhere else on earth..

Camel Breeding Farm in bikaner

Tour the National Research Center on Camel located at Jorbeer in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India with Rajasthan Holiday on your Bikaner tourist attraction tour. Popularly referred to as the Government Camel Breeding Farm, the National Research Center on Camel breeds the best camels in Bikaner and conducts research work related to "the ship of the desert."

Experiments related to camels are conducted on a regular basis at the Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India and the results obtained from these experiments lead to further attempts towards breeding better camels. The idea is to promote the concept of camel rearing and make camel an economically advantageous option for camel rearers in the region.

The Camel Breeding Farm at Bikaner, Rajasthan, India employs Raika's or Rebari's who are local camel breeders and have been in the profession of taking care of camels since the ancient times. Watch young camels frolicking and feeding as you tour the massive Camel Breeding Farm and treat yourself to some nutritious thick camel milk.

According to research conducted at the Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner, a healthy adult camel can carry a weight of 18 to 20 quintals for more than 4 hours at a stretch on a desert stretch without any strain.

An average riding camel has the capacity to ride more than 100 kilometers at 15 miles per hour in a day. So come and enjoy a delightful sight with baby camels gamboling and adult camels lazing at the Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.

Find out more on tours to Bikaner tourist attractions by visiting the web links mentioned below:

Places to see

Bikaner is famous for Junagarh Fort, The Suraj Pol or Sun Gate, Lal garh Palace, Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum, Gardens and Parks and many more. Bikaner city guide and travel information