As many as 18 people participated in a Camel Festival held in Cholistan desert on Monday to promote the livestock of the region.
Besides a camel race, the festival featured camel dance, tricks and milking competitions. A camel named Laila won the race. Chanchal finished second and Mastana third. In the dance competition, Malik Wali’s camel was declared winner. Mohammad Hanif’s camel came second and the third place position was awarded to Mian Jaffar’s camel.
Mohammad Hanif’s camel won the tricks competition. Camels owned by Malik Ghaman and Nazar Hussain were declared the first and the second runners up.
The milking competition was won by Kalu’s camel. Camels owned by Munir and Mumtaz were declared the first and the second runners up. The tricks and the dance competitions were judged by Dr Sohail, a veterinary doctor employed in Bahawalpur. He was invited to judge the competition by the Cholistan Development Authority.
Bahawalpur Commissioner Muhammad Mushatq Ahmed distributed certificates among the winners. A cash prize of Rs2,000 each was given to all 18 participants. MNA Chaudhry Saud Majeed and Bahawalpur district coordination officer Dr Naeem were also present at the festival.
Commissioner Mushtaq Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the government planned on organising similar festivals in the coming days to promote the culture of the region. He said a cow festival and a goat festival were lined up next.
A kabaddi match was also arranged on the occasion. The participating teams represented a Cholistan and Shahiwala regions. The Cholistani team won the match. A stadium is under construction at the site in Dilwish Dahr area, near Derawar Fort, where the festival took place. The commissioner said the stadium would host similar festivals and sports competitions.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.
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