January festivals: India’s Camel Festival

The beautiful, vibrant city of Rajasthan loves its camels. Not only is it home to India’s only camel breeding farm (the largest in Asia), and a thriving camel-safari industry, it’s also hosts the Bikaner Camel Festival. For two days each year, the celebration is, quite simply, dedicated to camels. There are camel races, camel tugs-of war, camel rides, camel dancing, best decorated camel competitions, a camel pageant, a camel beauty contest and if that’s not enough, a best camel hair cut competition!

Participating camels do get a bit of a rest during the evenings though, as this time is given over to displays of traditional dancing, including the famous Bikaner fire dances, which only get performed during the festival, and it’s all topped off with a bonanza firework display.