Bikaner camel breeding

India’s only camel breeding farm is located in Bikaner, a remote city in the Northwestern area of Rajasthan. Started in 1975, nearly half the camels bred in India come from this farm including those used in the camel regiment of the Indian Army. Formally named the National Research Center on Camel, the center is more popularly referred to as the Government Camel Breeding Farm.

Roughly 230 camels from 3 different breeds are reared here where experiments related to camels are conducted on a regular basis. Results from these experiments are used to in hopes of breeding better, or more economically advantageous, camels. 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) are employed by the center.

Background of the festival:
Besides the various elements of Bikaner, the camel holds a significant place. Camel is just not considered the mode of transportation in this desert region but is also a base of living for people here. The locals here trade camels in exchange for money and goods. Camel reflects the status; it is a foundation of trade and finance in Bikaner.

The Camel festival is officially organized by the government here with an intention to promote tourism. They say it is a successful mélange of heritage and culture in Bikaner. The festival is simply a way of locals paying tribute to the animal without whom surviving in the desert town would have been impossible. The festival is celebrated in many other small regions of Rajasthan, but the famous one is of Bikaner only.

Back in ancient times, Bikaner was the only camel breeding region. Do you know the camels that used to bred and trained in this region were enrolled in the Indian army? The people of the nearby area still bring camels to this breeding region every year.

Celebration of Bikaner Camel festival:
What do you expect at this festival, a bunch of camels here and there? No, the scene is spectacular when uncountable camels perform or parade against the backdrop of Junagarh Fort. The highlights of the festival are:

Camel beauty pageants: Jewelry, anklets, shawls and whatnot, the camels are decorated from head to toe.
Camel race
Traditional folk and music dance performances
Other traditional games and programs conducted for tourists
An array of stalls: A fair is incomplete without shopping. There are numerous stalls that sell souvenirs of Rajasthan, delicacies made of camel milk, as well as other exclusive products.

On day one there is an honorary camel ride and Bikaner city camel safari. The festival is inaugurated with an army band performance. Later several competitions between camels and other activities take place. The entire day passes by with all such events, and once when the sun sets, the ground becomes an open-air theatre. Beautiful musical and dance performances happen and post these the night desert sky gets illuminated with a magnificent firework.
If you want you can stay in the camping tents there to imbibe the feel of the desert, or you can head to the nearby motels.