SIDHPUR CAMEL FESTIVAL- KARTIK PURNIMA FESTIVAL

Sidhpur is a sacred town, around 103 km north of Ahmedabad. It is situated on the left bank of the River Saraswati, around 24 kms upstream of Anhilwad Patan, the old capital of Gujarat before Ahmedabad was founded in the first quarter of the fifteenth century. The town is a revered destination, flanked by temples, kunds, ashrams and other sacred structures. Around the 10th century, under the Solanki rulers, this town was at the pinnacle of prominence and glory. It derived its name from the great ruler of Gujarat, Siddhraj Jaisinh from the Solanki dynasty. Every year the Sidhpur Camel Festival is held at the banks of the Sabarmati River. This is a traditional fair held here during the Full Moon Day of Kartik month (November) . It is a livestock fair in which the locals and tribals from surrounding towns & villages participate. The camels and horses are decorated brilliantly by their owners to display, buy or sell them during the fair. The farmers bring in huge quantity of sugarcanes which is also sold along with various other local handicrafts items. The Kartikeya Temple opens for a week during this fair. All in all, the fair has all the color and vigor of a Gujarati mela.