BIDAR: The only camel fair in the State is held on the premises of the Amareshwar Temple in Aurad. This year, it will be held for a week starting Friday.

The fair has a history of over four decades. The D.M. Nanjundappa Committee report lists Aurad as one of the 57 most backward taluks in the State. Most of the 110 villages and 90 hamlets in the taluk lack all-weather roads. Camels are, therefore, the natural means of transportation. "We all went to school on camel back," recalls Shivraj Raga, president of the Nagarika Sangharsh Samiti of Aurad.

According to septuagenarian Shankreppa Biradar, Kalle Khan, a Rajasthan-based trader, began the informal sale of camels in Malegaon in Latur district in Maharashtra and in Aurad. The fair in Maharashtra was held in the last week of January. Here, it coincides with the annual fair of the Amareshwar temple held during the Shivarathri festival. The exhibition of camels will go on for seven days. Healthy camels cost anywhere between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 50,000.

However, with the advent of good roads and buses and jeeps plying to villages, the demand for camels has come down. The fair is also losing its charm, regrets Mr. Biradar.

The people of Aurad feel that the State Government can develop the fair into a tourist attraction.

Thousands of foreigners visit the camel show that the Rajasthan Government organises every year. "Why can't the State Government do something like this," wonders Shivanand Aurade, president of the Shanti-Kranti Yuvaka Sangha of Aurad.

Better facilities

The samiti and the sangha have urged the district administration to provide better facilities to traders who wish to participate in the fair.

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