Camel racing sport or abuse…. No different in Bikaner India…. Camel racing has been long associated with child jockeys and associated abuse…. Just couldn’t help my-self from not thinking about the associated dark side of this festival….
Though loved the Camel fair at Bikaner in Rajasthan, where ornately dressed camels danced to their master’s tune, bopping and hopping up and down with fancy footwork….other than the tap dancing camels, camel races, neck shaking camel rides, the fire dance, etc. The color and grandeur is mind boggling…
Camels and the Bikaner have a long association….the era of the founder of the city Rao Bika Ji, Bikaner is the only camel breeding region.
Contrast festivities and hardships etched on the faces of the locals ….the festivities starts with a colorful parade of beautifully adorned camels against the backdrop of majestic Junagarh Fort, kind-off blurs the other memories.
…. the displays of camels dressed in vibrant bridles, traditional necklace and heavy anklets showing off wonderful footwork to the lovely tunes on desert sands…. Got me intrigued…. Actually wanted a rustic handcrafted camel anklet…. Couldn’t find a size for me…
The camel racing… brings in thoughts of children being abused…. Though it’s been closely monitored by the government but still… lots of young youths take part in these dangerous races….
Like hundreds and thousands of tourists and locals I reveled in this traditional festival.
…the traditional Rajasthani folk dance performances and music added largely to the flavor of this festival. The fascinating Fire Dance adds an element of dare to the festivities. The ambiance of the fair inspires fire dancers to perform brilliant acts. Their skills and the shows are nothing short of spectacular. The melodies of folk music is like a soothing blanket trans-ponding us to a surreal world…. its charm just mesmerizes us all. The puppet shows are also amazing. The colorful attired puppet dolls narrate intriguing local folklores… the local Romeo Juliet makes the moment memorable….
