Bikaner culture which is a proud part of
Rajasthani culture is almost 450 years old. The city of Bikaner was founded by Bikaji Rao. Bikaner was a barren land and it was Bikaji who converted the place to a residential city. The culture of Bikaner is similar to that of other parts of Rajasthan. Bikaner is home to several forts and palaces dating back to many centuries. As wars frequently disturbed Rajasthan, forts and walls were required for ensuring the security of the residents.
However,
Bikaner culture is not just about the city and the majestic buildings, but also includes the people, their traditional dressing style, language, food, music, dancing and craftwork. Significantly, the camel is an indispensable part of life in Bikaner and was especially so before the arrival of the modern modes of transport. The utility of camel pervaded all aspects of life in Bikaner. From cooking and clothing to traveling and entertainment, the camel was a day-to-day requirement. This is the reason why Bikaner came to be known as the 'Camel Country'.
The food habit of the people in Bikaner is simple as in other parts of Rajasthan. The aloo bhujias, sattus, papads and rasgullas are very popular among tourists. The Bikaneri people are chiefly Hindus and they observe a number of North Indian practices and beliefs.
The Department of art, Crafts And Tourism of Rajasthan arranges various festivals in the city of Bikaner. The
Camel Festival is the most popular among them. Among the other festivals in Bikaner there are the Desert Festival, the Baneshwar fai, Nagaur Cattle Festival, Brij festival and the Alwar festival to name a few. All these festivals reflect the cultural and traditional aspects of the city.
