Bikaner Camel Festival 2025 in India

Parade camel races, neck-shaking camel rides, camel dances, and much more are an integral part of the international Bikaner Camel Festival in Rajasthan. These brave animals have even been enrolled in the army. Bikaner is famous for being the only camel breeding region, so this two-day festival is exclusively dedicated to these tough animals surviving in harsh desert conditions.

Bikaner Camel Festival Highlights

The festival is celebrated every year and is significant to the people of Rajasthan because there were no automobiles in the early times, so camels were the only transport. During the parade, animals are nicely adorned with traditional necklaces, heavy anklets, and vibrant bridles.

The festival embodies the famous camel dance, a hilarious spectacle where the camels follow the instructions of their owners. Also, there is a chance to witness camel games and fur designs, taste unique camel milk tea, try delicious food, listen to traditional folk music, and buy some crafts.

It's easy to become a part of Bikaner Camel Festival—just visit it in January. The weather in this month is usually whimsical, so it might be a good idea to take some warm clothes.

Festival Schedule

First day of the Bikaner Camel Festival starts with a vibrant camel procession from Junagarh Fort to Dr. Karni Singh Stadium. Camels adorned with colorful necklaces, anklets, and bridles are showcased in a pageant, followed by contests like camel milking, fur cutting designs, and a mesmerizing camel dance competition. The day concludes with captivating cultural performances by local artists.

Day two features engaging competitions like tug-of-war, water pot races, turban tying for tourists, and displays of wrestling and kabaddi. The festivities end with enchanting cultural performances, colorful dances, and a dazzling fireworks display, marking the grand finale of the festival.

History

Camels, which are known for their beauty and strength, have always been an integral part of the Bikaner. The Bikaner army had a camel corps called the Ganga Risala, which participated in both World Wars, as well as in conflicts in Somaliland, Egypt, and China. To this day, the camels are still used by the Bikaner Camel Corps of the Border Guard Forces to patrol the border and remain the main attraction at the Republic Day Parade.