World-Famous Camel Festival in Bikaner to Be Held from 9–11 January; Heritage Walk to Kick Off Celebrations

Bikaner is set to host its world-renowned Camel Festival from 9th to 11th January, promising a spectacular celebration of Rajasthan’s desert culture, folk traditions, and camel artistry. This year, organizers have made special arrangements to enhance the festival, featuring folk dances, a unique camel arts fair called “Usthra Ro Melo”, and the highly popular Heritage Walk. As part of traditional rituals, yellow rice will be distributed across the city on 2nd January to invite residents to the festival.

Preparations Underway for a Grand Celebration
The festival, which blends the golden sands of the desert, the charm of camels, and Rajasthan’s rich heritage, will showcase the state’s vibrant culture over three days. A review meeting chaired by District Collector Namrata Vrishni finalized the full schedule, with officials emphasizing efforts to make this edition even more grandiose. On 2nd January at 8:30 AM, the tradition of distributing yellow rice will begin from Lakshminath Ji Temple and continue across the city to formally invite the public to the festival.

Day 1 – 9 January: Heritage and Culture
The first day will highlight the artistic and cultural heritage of Bikaner. The Heritage Walk, titled “Hamari Virasat”, will take place from 8:00 to 10:00 AM and is expected to be highly popular among tourists. The route will cover Lakshminath Temple, Bada Bazaar, Mohta Chowk, Hanumangarhi Temple-Asania Chowk, and Rampuria Haveli, offering glimpses of historic havelis, frescoes, and architectural marvels.

From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, an exhibition showcasing Rajasthan’s traditional yet fading art forms—Pichwai, Usta, and Matheran—will be held at Rabindra Rangmanch, Open Air Theatre, supported by a seven-day pre-festival workshop. The evening from 6:00 to 9:00 PM will feature local folk artists performing music, dance, and cultural presentations, reflecting Bikaner’s vibrant heritage.

Day 2 – 10 January: Usthra Ro Melo and Cultural Extravaganza
The second day will host the unique camel arts festival Usthra Ro Melo at the National Camel Research Centre from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Highlights will include camel dance, camel fur cutting, decorative adornments, camel races, and horse races—drawing large numbers of domestic and international tourists.

For the first time, “Bikana Ki Shaan” will be held at Dharanidhar Stadium from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, featuring Mr. Bikana and Miss Marvan competitions, along with the iconic Dhol-Maroo performance and traditional Rajasthani attire showcase, making it the festival’s main attraction.

The evening cultural gala at Karni Singh Stadium from 7:00 to 10:00 PM will include folk dance, music, and vibrant performances by Rajasthani artists, entertaining audiences well into the night.

Day 3 – 11 January: Grand Finale in the Desert
The final day promises a thrilling grand finale at the sand dunes of Raisar from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Desert games and competitions will feature tug-of-war, wrestling, kabaddi, and turban-tying contests by foreign guests. Women’s matka race will be the highlight, combining skill, speed, and tradition, marking a spectacular close to the festival.

Bikaner’s Camel Festival continues to captivate visitors with its unique blend of tradition, culture, and desert artistry, offering an unforgettable experience for both domestic and international tourists.