Mallika Dureja
On January 26, for the first time, a dozen women will ride camels as part of the famous camel contingent of the Border Security Force (BSF). They will be part of the Republic Day Parade.
The BSF said on Monday, “This is the first time that the BSF Mahila Camel Riders will march on Kartavya Path as part of the BSF Camel Contingent during the Republic Day Parade.”
When these women ride camels in a parade, they will wear royal ceremonial uniforms made just for them. A well-known fashion designer put together uniforms that show off the many valuable crafts of India. They will have the iconic Jodhpuri bandhgala and a classic and elegant long tunic.
The BSF said that the 400-year-old Danka method is used to make the zardosi work on the textured fabric from Benaras that is used for different trims.
The striking Pagh is a turban that is based on the traditional Pagh of the Mewar region of Rajasthan. It is worn with the uniform. Since 1976, the BSF camel group has taken part in the Republic Day parade.
The group usually has 90 camels, 54 of which carry troops and the rest carry band members.
The Camel contingent also takes part in the Beating the Retreat ceremony, which is held three days after Republic Day, on January 29.
The BSF is the only force in the country that uses camels both in combat and for ceremonies Bordermen, which is what the BSF people are called, ride these camels to patrol the Thar Desert along the border with Pakistan.
Behind-the-scenes activity of BSF Camel Contingent before the #RepublicDayParade Rehearsals.
Watch them on #KartavyaPath on the occasion of #RepublicDayParade2023 #RepublicDayIndia#BSFNaariShakti#NaariShakti #womenpower pic.twitter.com/8tahbwchVW— BSF (@BSF_India) January 24, 2023
Out of a total of about 240,000 people who work for the BSF, about 8,000 are women, including about 140 officers and subordinate officers. Sources say that the women are used for all kinds of operational tasks, such as patrolling the zero line and working at night observation posts. Under its water wing, the Force has also put all-women floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) along the border between India and Bangladesh. The BSF also has a motorcycle team made up of only women called Seema Bhawani.
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The BSF was set up on December 1, 1965, and its main job is to watch over the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is the only force in the world that has an air wing, an artillery wing, and a water wing.
