One of the largest inhabitant mammals of the desert is the camel. It basicallysurvives of water and by chewing ruminant. Its unique features are its humps of the back. The species found in Arabia usually boasts a single hump. Originating in the land of Africa, These camels are not find in the wild anymore. The central asian specie namely the Bactarian Camel always has two humps. The camels , both African and Bactarian are now used as couriers or for domestic services.  Camels that work in the racing are usually called dromedary.

Orignially the keepers, breeders and the caretakers of the Maharaja’s camels, the Raikas are a tribe that are almost synonymous with the name of camels in the deserts of Rajasthan. The one thing that they hold close to their heart is that fact they say yo to the sale of a she camel, particularly outside the community they have, and abhorthe thought of selling this animal for slaughter. Yet, Its is unfortunate that the social stigma and its pressure has loosened their vision which made for a horrible incident in the Pushkar fair of 2003 as several camels were sold to be slaughtered.

Significance of Camel in Rajasthan

Transport

Generally considered as an animal for transport parituclarly in the dry and arid areas of the desert, The Camels potential in food are often royally ignored.Coming back to the transport, The Camel with a cart attached to it is still a very frequent mode for travelling in the Great Indian Desert. These services can also be availed at the major urban as well as the rural places. In Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bikaner,these are the transport that can be seeneverywhere. They often are utilised for the transportation of goods, particularly fodder,wood, gas cylinders, bricks and fabrics etc.

Camel Milk

Herdsmen and their extended families have over the years survived and thrived for years by drinking and savouring this famous by product of the ship of the desert. The Culture and Tradition of Rajasthan is such that the sale of Camel milk is taboo and even restricted in certain places, for instance camel milk is never sold in the interiorbreeding places of camels Jaisalmer, Bikaner and even Jodhpur. The manufacturestructure is broad which involves the herd of camels to be stationed at a considerable distance of the city where they are bred.  The camels are mostly milked during the late hours as the main demand of it arises in the early hours of the morning.

Camel Meat

Previously, camels in Rajasthan were neverkilled of meat, excludingunder a concealedmanner.The eating of the meat of the camel is often considered taboo,such is the case with the community of Raika who are a tribe ofexclusive camel lovers who choose to denounce the slaughter.Certain communities allow the use of camel for slaughtered. People in Tonk particularly sacrifice and slaughter camel on several feasts and occasion. Hence it would be only fair to assert that such slaughter and use of meat is fairly restricted.

Camel Wool

The wool of came is used by breeders of camelsin order to ensure theproduce of objectsthat shall be put to use in their particular houses like the blankets, charpais, rugsetc. in the same wayas was tomilk of camel, Initially, It faced certain edifyinglimitationspertainingto such sales.Due to low yields of the wool andpetitethread, it is apparent that this wool may not be suitable for capitalist markets and large scale productions

Camel Leather

Camel and the use of their skin is quintessential for procure of toys,lampshades, drum covers and other special sorts of containers. Shoes are also a product that is created out of this skin;  going by what the leather and weaving community asserts, The camel skins are often moved to the southern part of the nation due to non availability of tanneries in the state.

Camel Dung

The dung of the camelhighlightsan imperativemanure and over the years continues to play a noteworthypositionin theassociationconnectingthe farmers and breeders of camel. Even though the consequent fertilization of the camel dung is lower to that of sheep or goat, People often assert that its greater than the power of cow dung.

Why Camels are needed in Rajasthan

Draught Resilience

Rajasthan as a place is extremely prone to the problem of draught. Typicalyearlyprecipitation Rate wary wildly from year to year. The makers of the state policy have kept in mind this issue and have hence planned a huge range of subsidies in the sector of irrigation.

Livelihoods for the people

In ancient times, owning a camel meant the royality and prosperity of a family. Simbol of immense wealth and military might. But currently, the poorer sections of the society have resorted to use the camel and have encircled their livelihood and sources of income around the same.

Environmental protection

Used usually for the transport of product, also in urban spaces, these camel carts make a bold statement in the world of energy efficiency. Silent, eco friendly and without any use of fuel, These carts are a gift to the environment. They in no matter should be regarded ancient but in the purest space workas the ambassador of Rajasthan’s pride.

Tourism

Unquestionably, the opportunitytoexperience a safari with a camelenchants a hugeamount of touristsparticularlythe youth community who often travel to Jaisalmer in particular and Rajasthan in general. The implicationof the camel for the attractiveness of Rajasthan as a destination for the tourists can never be completely fathomed.

Cultural Life

eacharticle, occasion or leaveboasts of a culture that has several facets to it. The camel and its several benefits are the basis of the cultural foundation of Rajasthan. Rajasthan’s mots famous epic lies in the story of “Dhola-Maru Ra dooha” thathighlight how lovers used camels to send across their loves to people. Camel has also slowly seeped in to the very literature of Rajasthan. Camel have also been extensively used by princess to highlight their royalty and regality.

Camel Safari in Rajasthan

Often called as the Ship of the Desert, There is a unique way how people can roam around the arid region of Thar. The camels are the best way to explore the desert. Initial hiccups with the camel might cause some issues but once comfort seepes in, It become easy and smooth. As lazy and lousy it may appear at once, The camel is the basis of survival and transport in the desert as it is the only mode of communication that connects the rural interiors of the desert with others.