Bikaner Camel Festival

Bikaner Camel Festival Overview

The Bikaner Camel Festival is an annual event held in January to honour and showcase the majesty of the Ship of the Desert.

This colourful and spirited festival celebrates the legendary camel which has been an integral part of the region's culture for centuries. With camels races, cultural dances, several competitions, music and more, the Bikaner Camel Festival is a must-visit event for tourists and locals alike. The festivities begin with a grand procession of stunningly decorated camels. The camels with the finest ornaments are entered in various competitions like the best-decorated camel, camel dancing and camel races. The competition for best-decorated camel is judged on the basis of jewellery, saddles and other decorations. The camel dancing competition is a spectacular sight where two decorated camels elegantly step to the rhythmic beats of drums.

Huge flocks of camels racing across the sand in the Camel Races is a sight to behold and cheerleaders from both sides line the course and add to the thrill of the race. Apart from the camel competitions, the duration of the festival is filled with a number of cultural activities. The women of Bikaner perform traditional dances like Gair and Fire dance accompanied by local music and drums. Tourists can get a taste of the local cuisine and can go for souvenir shopping in the bazaar set up in the evening. At the end of the celebration, an awarding ceremony is held who crowns the winners in each category.This vibrant festival gives us an opportunity to experience the rich culture of Rajasthan and appreciate the country's proud camel heritage. The festivities, the cultural activities, the camels, the races and the music make this a memorable experience for all visitors. It is an ideal event that enlightens tourists and locals with the customs and culture of the place and helps in the conservation of camels which are rapidly disappearing from the country. The best time to visit the Bikaner Camel Festival is during the month of January, as this marks the peak season for the event. So come and join the fun to experience the festival which celebrates the majestic camels of India.