Jaisalmer Desert Festival

LOOK OUT FOR

This year the colourful Jaisalmer Desert Festival will take place from the 21st till the 23rd of February.

Not only will there be lots of shows by folk artistes from across Rajasthan (including snake charmers and acrobats), all-day live music by native musicians, and dancing and singing at night, there will be ways for you to get in some sporting action as well.

As with everything in Rajasthan, this will involve camels. In past years there has been a contest for the best dressed camel "" and although this isn't technically a sport, one can see how it could be.

The condition is remote, but if this isn't exciting enough for you, there will be camel races and also camel polo.

These sports will probably not be as fast-paced as their counterparts with horses, but camels aren't as slow as you might think, and anyway the novelty of it will make up for any disappointment.

Finally, you can participate in the famous tug-of-war, a great way to end your time in Jaisalmer.

Cycle polo

The 27th Senior Men Cycle Polo Tournament is being organised between the 7th and 13th March by the Cycle Polo Federation of India (CPFI).

Cycle Polo was started by the Maharajas of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Alwar and Patiala who hooked on to horse polo as their offseason passion in the early 1900s.

The sport became more popular during the Second World War with British and Indian regiments when horses were diverted to the army for purposes of war.

It became an organised sports event of the comon man in 1966 with the setting up of CPFI. The event uses no frills cycles and is played with simple tennis balls.

Accessories like stands, carriers, bells, gears and mud guards are not allowed.

In earlier days bamboo horse polo balls were used. CPFI also links the national event with international ones through its affiliation with Asia Cycle Polo Federation and International Bicycle Polo Association.