- Title: INDIA: Bikaner holds its annual camel festival
- Date: 27th January 2002
- Summary: (L!1) BIKANER (JANUARY 27, 2002) (ANI) SLV CAMELS BEING BROUGHT TO THE CAMEL FESTIVAL SLV CAMELS WITH DESIGNS ETCHED ON THEIR FUR SLV CAMEL OWNERS BEATING DRUMS VARIOUS, MEN IN TRADITIONAL ATTIRE SITTING ON DECORATED CAMELS BACK (4 SHOTS) SLV OF DECORATED CAMELS IN THE FAIR SMV A FOREIGN TOURIST BEATING DRUMS SMV /SCU FOREIGN TOURISTS WEARING TURBANS SITTING ON A CAMEL'S BACK SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMELIA, TOURIST, SAYING: "I never knew that they carved such beautiful designs on to the camel's fur. We liked that and our kids liked the camel ride." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) JANE, TOURIST, SAYING: "I am very surprised there are very few tourists and before we came we did not know that this festival is for tourists. I thought it was a festival of camel sales as in Pushkar but know that I see that it is for tourists, I wonder how it will be as there are very few tourists here." WIDE OF FOLK DANCERS WEARING TRADITIONAL DRESSES DANCING SMV FOLK DANCER PERFORMING SMV FOLK ARTIST BEATING A LARGE JAR WHICH IS USED AS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT VARIOUS OF FOLK DANCERS PERFORMING ON STAGE WIDE OF FOREIGN TOURISTS SITTING VARIOUS, OF DANCERS PERFORMING SMV FOREIGN TOURIST TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NIRMAL WADHWANI, LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR, SAYING: "We always organise different kinds of cultural festivals for the foreign tourists. But the September 11, December 13 attacks and the fire that broke out in the army depot, have affected the inflow of foreign tourists. But we are trying continuously to promote this festival." VARIOUS, OF A DECORATED CAMEL DANCING TO THE BEAT OF DRUMS/ CAMERS FEET (3 SHOTS) SMV FOREIGN TOURISTS CLAPPING VARIOUS OF CAMEL PERFORMING/KNEELING ON THE GROUND
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 20:56
- Keywords:
- Location: NATURAL WITH ENGLISH AND HINDI SPEECH
- Country: India
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA3SDT381BLCDQ6V57GPVII898U
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: India's annual camel fair has got off to a colourful start in the northwestern city of Bikaner.
Every year for two days, India's northwestern fortified city of Bikaner assumes a festive air with a unique camel fair.
This year, the fair, organised by Rajasthan state tourism department, began on Sunday (January 27).
The festival flaunting the "Ship of the Desert" in action presents a great display of relations between man and animal.
The event got off to a colourful start with caparisoned camels being led on to the ground by their proud owners.
Intricate designs etched on the backs of the animals caught the eye of spectators.
"I never knew that they carved such beautiful designs in to the camel's fur, we liked that and our kids liked the camel ride," said Amelia, a tourist visiting the region.
Jane, another tourist said: "I am very surprised there are very few tourists and before we came we did not know that this festival is for tourists. I thought it was a festival of camel sales as in Pushkar but know that I see that it is for tourists, I wonder how it will be as there are very few tourists here."
The long lanky camels, colourfully bridled with bejewelled necks, jingling anklets gave an amazing display of footwork, dancing gracefully to the direction of their owners.
Graceful performances by folk artists attired in traditional costumes enthralled the audience.
Nirmal Wadhwani, local administrator of Bikaner, said the festival aimed at boosting the tourism industry in the state which had witnessed a downward trend due to various acts of terrorism and consequent tensions.
"We always organise different kinds of cultural festivals for the foreign tourists. But the September 11, December 13 attacks and the fire that broke out in the army depot, have affected the inflow of foreign tourists. But we are trying continuously to promote this festival," said Wadhwani.
Foreign arrivals to India plummeted 29 percent in October, 25 percent in November and 15 percent in December.
Hotel occupancy rates sank 15 percent to 18 percent in the October-December quarter on the year, reflecting both the drop in foreign arrivals and domestic corporate travel as business activities slumped. He added that the festival was a perfect opportunity for promoting camel breeders of the region and to revive the age old tradition of taming and training camels.
The desert city of Bikaner, situated some 320 kilometres from state capital Jaipur, was a major centre for trade in the 16th century.
It houses a number of places of tourist attraction including forts, palaces, temples and museums apart from the Centre of Camel Research. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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