Firangs from US ‘n UK get knotty in Thar

Bikaner is a district lying in the northwestern part of the desert state. The sleepy town found in the medieval ages has enough to boast of, when it comes to culture and history.

The rich tradition is still carried on by the structures that dot the city both in the walls and outside it.

The magnificent havelis and forts accompanied with ancient temples in the background of undulating dunes make it one of the most important components of the Golden triangle of Tourism India, which has a merit of attracting largest number of foreign tourists to the land.

A small village called Katariyasar situated a couple of kilometers from this far-flung district has the honour of hosting a camel festival every year in the month of January.

The extravaganza organised by the combined efforts of the district administration and Tourism Department of Rajasthan has very fascinating events as it unfolds in the mild cool breeze of the dunes.

The event has the global presence in the terms of tourists thronging the place from all over the country, as well as far off counties such as Switzerland, France, Austria, England and USA.

The events are as colourful like their description such as ‘Tug of War’ between foreigners and the local people. Then comes the feast time serving desserts and meals prepared with camel milk giving once in the lifetime experience.

Once the appetite is through its way there is a very unusual race where there is a fierce competition, and the participants are none other than the king of desert.

Camels run like leopards in their bid to win the heart of the foreign visitors and fly with the dust of the desert.

It is just not other place for foreign tourists to have fun and pay for it. It is an experience, which remains with them throughout their lifetime. With the day full of fun and frolic the night seems to be even more eager to embrace the foreign guests and embrace them in its twirls of darkness with a big bonfire with a story of its own.

People from ‘Sidh’(Masters) community dance on thick fire barefoot for hours, as people both Indians and foreigners look at them in with awe and praise. Legend has it that these ‘Sidh’ people, who follow 36 rules as stipulated by their religion and are blessed by the powers to be, so as not to be affected by the heat of the burning embers of the red hot wood turned into burning coke.

It looks as if all the skies scatter over and above the burning embers to bless and witness the magnificent dancers of fire.

But the warmth of the fire is found somewhere else. It is in the ties, which the guests from thousands of miles, who come here to stay for a few days nourish in their hearts. It could also be discovered in the faith reposed in the traditions and rituals of this land.

Local dailies were replete with colourful photos of the groom and bride in the local attire and sporting true Indian colours. Be it Eleanor from UK or Jenny from Netherlands, who disclosed, “Oh we decided to marry in the traditional (Indian) way just two days before the camel festival.”

No doubt it would be a lifetime experience for her to carry the sweet memoirs of getting married in a small village.

These marriages were witnessed by agni (the sacred fire) along with hundreds of villagers, who cheered up the whole ceremony by their voluntary co-operation. Pandits (priests) were arranging to ensure the solemnising of marriages with the full recitation of the Vedic hymns (mantras) and religious chores.

As Will from England says, he felt overwhelmed after his marriage. Not only that women kept the whole atmosphere live and homely singing the marriage songs blessing the newly wed they also arranged for the nitty-gritty’s of the occasion.

The guests anyways were reveling in the warmth of hosts and the musical bonfires. Whoever said foreigners come to India for tourism alone.!