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Bikaner Camel Festival

Bikaner Camel Festival

All festivals

fair

Two days in January organized by state tourism. Region: Bikaner, Rajasthan. 2 days
Festivals/Bikaner Camel Festival

When it happens

January

Two days in January organized by state tourism. Region: Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Annual
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Bikaner Camel Festival
Bikaner Camel Festival 2020 · Meetu1980 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Bikaner Camel Festival
Meetu1980 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Bikaner Camel Festival
Meetu1980 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Bikaner Camel Festival
Meetu1980 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Bikaner Camel Festival
Meetu1980 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Significance

A dazzling celebration of the desert camel, featuring fur-cutting competitions, camel dancing, races, and folk fire dances.

Why it's celebrated

The camel holds a central place in Rajasthani desert culture, and the fair commemorates the historic legacy of the Bikaner Camel Corps.

How it's celebrated

The fair opens with beautifully decorated camels. There are camel fur-cutting displays (intricate patterns clipped into the coat), camel dances and camel beauty pageants, and visitors enjoy tea and sweets made from camel milk.

Key rituals

The fair begins with camels adorned in ornaments and traditional tasselled finery, led in a procession from Junagarh Fort where elders perform a puja.

Beliefs & spiritual meaning

The camel is regarded as an auspicious symbol of the desert, and caring for and honouring camels is believed to bring prosperity to the region.

History & origins

The festival was started by Rajasthan Tourism to support camel herders and keep alive the heritage of the historic Bikaner Camel Corps.

Tips for travellers

The camel fur-cutting design contest is remarkable - arrive early to photograph it. Bikaner is very cold in January, so carry warm clothing.

What to expect

Two days in January on the sand outside Bikaner. Camels in ankle bells moving to drums, camels with patterns shaved into their coats, races, and a fire dance after dark. The shaved-hide designs are what most people end up photographing.

Quick facts

Also known as
International Camel Festival, Bikaner Unt Utsav
When
Two days in January organized by state tourism. Region: Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Duration
2 days
Deity
None (Unt- Camel ni pooja ane gaurav)
Where
Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Type
fair
Unique Contest
Camel fur cutting, in which intricate artistic patterns are clipped into the camel's coat.

Frequently asked

Are camel safaris available?+

Yes - camel rides and desert safaris are specially arranged for visitors during the fair.

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