It’s especially enjoyable to see Bikaner during one of its festivals, when the city becomes truly alive and tourists have a better chance of interacting with the locals and learning more about the traditional culture and lifestyle in the city. The best event for tourists to witness is the Bikaner Festival, a truly fun event and great for taking photos and learning more about the resident camels.

Bikaner Festival: this is the highlight of the city’s calendar of festivals and is an event dedicated entirely to honouring the ubiquitous hump-backed beast known as the camel. A camel procession kicks off proceedings, followed by camel races, best of breed competitions, camel acrobatics, camel milking, camel dances and more.

Nagaur Fair: travel to the city of Nagaur, situated midway between Bikaner and Jodhpur, for this annual animal-based event which involves various activities with horses, camels and cattle.

Gangaur Fair: lasting for 18 days, this festival, which is devoted to the Goddess Parvati, is celebrated by adult women – both those who are married and those still seeking a husband. Those in the latter category fast and pray for a faithful and loving partner while married members of the female population pray for the good health of their husband.

Buddha Purnima: is a celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Celebrations take place on the full moon in May.

Muharram: marks the day of the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein. Replicas of his tomb, called tazias, are lifted through the streets, and men beat their chests and scream in distress. It doesn’t sound all that festive, but the tazias can be quite spectacular to see.

Janmashtami Festival: celebrates Lord Krishna's birthday at midnight in the temples of Krishna throughout India. The main place of celebration is in Mathura, where he was born and his birth is re-enacted each year. However, some locals hold small celebrations in Bikaner.

Karni Mata Fair: held at the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke, this event is held in honour of Karni Mata, an individual who dedicated her life to those less fortunate than herself and who is now viewed as a deity among her followers. This event runs through till October and is also celebrated in the months of March and April.

Kolayat Festival: celebrated at the Kolayat Temple, this event is celebrated enthusiastically by residents of Bikaner and other towns in Rajasthan. Locals immerse themselves in the holy waters of the Kolayat lake during the daytime, while at night the same lake comes alive with floating lanterns, making for a truly beautiful spectacle.