Unique camel fair in Karnataka

Bidar, Karnataka, Feb 24 (UNI) A unique week-long camel fair began on the premises of Amareshwar temple at Aurad taluk in this district of Karnataka today.

The fair, with a history of over four decades, coincided with the annual fair of the Amareshwar temple and Shivrathri festival. In Maharashtra, it was held in the last week of January. Thousands of foreigners visited the camel show, organised by the Rajasthan Government every year.

Septuagenarian Shankreppa Biradar and Kalle Khan, Rajasthan-based traders, began the informal sale of camels at Malegaon in Latur district of Maharashtra and in Aurad.

The D M Nanjundappa Committee report listed Aurad as one of the 57 most backward taluks in the State, with most of the 110 villages and 90 hamlets in the town lacking all-weather roads. Camels were, therefore, the natural means of transportation.

Healthy camels would cost anywhere between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000. However, with the laying of good roads and the advent of buses and jeeps in villages, the demand for camels had come down.

The fair was also losing its charm, regretted Mr Biradar.

The people of Aurad town felt that the State Government could develop the fair into a tourist attraction next year.

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