Camel fairs are held at Pushkar and Bikaner in India annually.
Ride into Rajasthan’s Desert Magic: Pushkar & Bikaner Camel Festivals 2025 –2026
🕑6 min read | Published: October 21, 2025 | By: Aadvik Foods
A land of rustling dunes, where forts narrate stories, sand dances to the tune of folk music, and royal pride of centuries is carried on the dromedarian humps. The mention of Rajasthan brings to life the vibrant images of golden sand-covered dunes, colorful turbans, camels leisurely walking toward the horizon, and the princely architecture and grandeur. And somewhere, the “padharo mharo desh” starts playing in the mind, enticing you as a whole.
The camel, also known as the "Ship of the Desert," has been deeply ingrained in desert culture for centuries. Moving gracefully across the sands, these are the symbols of pride and endurance. Their contribution to desert life makes them an inevitable part of the desert culture. They are celebrated as a significant part of community gatherings, cultural activities, and tourism. The celebration of these “lifelines” of desert life is evident during the famous camel fairs held in Rajasthan, such as the Pushkar Camel Fair and the Bikaner Camel Festival. These fairs not only highlight the connection the camel provides between desert life and human life, but also demonstrate Rajasthan's desert heritage.
Pushkar Camel Fair
Originally started as a marketplace where herders gathered to trade camels, cattle, and horses, this event has evolved into a grand cultural exhibition that attracts tourists from around the world every year. Pushkar becomes a co-space for pilgrims, photographers, and wanderers where devotion meets grandeur. This annual five-day event is held in October or November each year. Pushkar camel fair (Kartik Mela or Pushkar Mela) is a comprehensive festival combining spirituality, commerce, and tradition in one colorful package. So, when looking for the ultimate large desert event, this one is expected to top the Rajasthan bucket list.
Sacred Pushkar: More than a Camel Fair
Pushkar is a sacred town known as the city of Lord Brahma. It houses the only Brahma Temple in the world dedicated to the creator god. During the fair, every year, devotees from all over India gather at the Pushkar Lake to take the holy dip on the full moon (Purnima) of the ‘Kartik’ (October-November) month of the Hindu calendar. It is believed that taking this dip will bring blessings and the forgiveness of sins. At sunrise, camel herders are seen sealing the camel trade agreements, while worshippers chant prayers at the ghats. It is a beautiful chaos with monks chanting beside the tattoo artists and folk dances performed alongside the camel traders. The mix of devotion and trade makes the Pushkar Camel Fair unique.
All the Desert drama that keeps the hook on: Activities and Events
Events are what truly set Pushkar apart. Everything turns into a huge carnival, putting all desert energy in one place:
- Camel Racing - Nothing can match the joy of watching the desert ships gallop down a sandy track.
- Beauty Contests of the Camels - Camels come equipped with decorative, colorful bridles, shimmering saddles, and sometimes even shaved patterns. Seriously, the glow-ups would go viral if camels had Instagram with the “best dressed camel” award.
- Cultural Events - Folk dancers dressed in elaborate, twirly-skirt costumes, musicians playing slow desert tunes, and arena adventures featuring puppets and storytellers bring the artistic “desert diaries” to life.
Bikaner Camel Festival: A Party in the Desert with the Hooves
While Pushkar is a spiritual chaos, the Bikaner Camel Festival is a spectacle with its show stoppers: camels, and the celebration of their importance in desert culture in Rajasthan.
Bikaner, also known as the “Camel Capital of India,” is a major center for camel breeding. The camels of the Bikaner Camel Corps even participated in World Wars I and II. This legacy is celebrated vibrantly to this day.
Camel Festival 2026: Desert Extravaganza of Bikaner
The International Bikaner Camel Festival 2026 is all set for January 11th and 12th, 2026. For these two days (usually the second Saturday and Sunday), Bikaner is decked up in color, highlighting the camel and their integral role, attracting thousands from India and abroad.
What to Expect
- It's a desert party with the hooves of the extravagant opening parade of decorated camels from the Junagarh Fort to Dr. Karni Singh Stadium.
- Several camel competitions and performances, along with the cutting of camels' fur, and even the racing of camels while being milked.
- The food is a must-try, with authentic Rajasthani thalis serving dal baati churma, gatte ki sabji, ker sangri, and laal maas. The different types of chats, kachoris, and ghewar are dishes to die for.
- The food stalls that serve Rajasthani food may even provide food that includes camel milk treats. Some brands, like Aadvik, also provide camel milk products that can be procured both online and offline.
This is more than a festival; visitors gather as camels adorned in sparkling saddles flex on the runway of colors with their shadows dancing on the golden sand. The smell of sizzling Rajasthani snacks mingles with dust kicked up by racing camels. Art, tradition, performance, and religious zeal all exist amicably under the massive Thar skies.
Rhythms, Markets and Bling: Touristy Stuff
The heart of the state starts beating in rhythms when the drums roll and the scent of desert spices fills the air. In addition to camels, Pushkar and Bikaner festivals are cultural fairs filled with music, dance, and shopping.
Folk Music & Dance
The Kalbelia dancers evoke serpents in their mesmerizing movements; the Ghoomar performers spin in graceful gyrations; the Manganiyar musicians entertain you with haunting desert tunes.
Community-Spirit
These fairs are not just shows for tourists; they provide a space for the performers to perpetuate their culture as artists, artisans, and herdsmen, keeping cultural forms alive in the modern world.
The combo of rhythms, markets, and bling adds up to the beauty of these fairs; they provide a cultural deep-dive.
Handicraft Bazaar
Each booth bubbles with artisanal handcrafted goods such as embroidered skirts, camel leather bags, silver jewelry, and quirky trinkets. All are perfect for visitors looking for souvenirs that scream Rajasthan.
More than just camels: Unmissable Desert Experiences
Though these are camel fairs, there are also experiences in Rajasthan that should not be missed:
- Camel Riding in the Desert
- Visiting Brahma Temple, bazaars, and soaking in the spiritual serenity of the ghats beyond the fair at Pushkar.
- Visiting the Junagarh Fort, famous Karni Mata Temple (yes, the one with the rats!), and Bikaneri snacks add extra flavor to your visit to Bikaner.
- Desert camping, fire pits, Rajasthani thalis, and desert scenery, along with stargazing opportunities under the endless desert skies.
Whether it be sightseeing or just soaking up the Thar desert culture, there is much more than camels to be found.
Is A Trip plan already brewing?
If the thoughts of visiting these camel fairs are already popping into your mind, don't wait. The best time to visit is from November to January. Both Pushkar and Bikaner are well connected through the railways, air, and roadways. Jaipur and Jodhpur are the nearest airports. Homestays, desert camps, and hotels offer a range of experiences, but it is better to book ahead to prevent the hassle during the festival time. Pack light for the days and warm for the chilly nights in the desert, along with hats, sunscreens, and comfortable shoes.
Conclusion
The camel festival in Rajasthan is more than just an attraction for tourists; it’s the heart and soul of desert culture. These fairs demonstrate the extent to which camels contribute to the desert life in Rajasthan's identity. Camels are more than just transport animals; they are stars of the culture.
While the Pushkar Camel Fair offers spirituality, commerce, and entertainment, the Bikaner Camel Festival revs it up with parades, races, and performances. Although known as Camel Fairs, the sunsets, songs, and the soul of desert life linger in the heart for a lifetime. Together, they demonstrate that Rajasthan preserves its tradition, in style!
Rajasthan truly celebrates the camel not just as an animal, but as a legend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Camel Fair in India?
What are the activities for visitors at these camel festivals?
Along with watching camel racing and the camel parade, guests can enjoy a variety of folk music, dances, handicraft fairs, camel rides in the desert, and local Rajasthani food. Also, visitors can experience the forts, temples, and the bazaars in both Pushkar and Bikaner.
What differentiates the Pushkar Camel Fair from the Bikaner Camel Festival?
The Pushkar Camel Fair features livestock exchange, religious ceremonies, and cultural activities, whereas the Bikaner Camel Festival focuses more on performances, camel processions, and celebrating camels as cultural symbols.
Where is the Camel Festival in Bikaner?
The Camel Festival is held around the Junagarh Fort. The festival highlights the significance of camels in Rajasthan's culture through performances, camel parades, and demonstrations of the desert lifestyle.
Which is the largest camel festival in India?
The Pushkar camel fair is considered to be the largest camel festival in India.
What is the date of the Pushkar Fair?
The Pushkar Fair aligns with the Kartik Purnima of the Hindu calendar and is scheduled to take place from 30th October to November 5th, 2025.