Ply split braiding and the Camel: King of the desert

When we look at Ply split braiding's history, the camel's involvement is unmistakable. The Camel belt, or "Tang" (तंग) was the key use of this craft across the pastoral communities Rajasthan and Gujarat. Its so interesting, and heart-warming to see an entire craft centered around the bond between the human and their camel; something made purely out of love for the animal. This implies the existence of a deep emotional bond, as one would have with their family member, as opposed to one that is transactional in nature.

Picture by Peter Collingwood

Tulsa Ram holding a traditional ply-split camel girth that he made, Dhivera, India, February 1989.

The very existence of this craft sheds light on the very importance of camels as the heart and soul of the craft. The camel, alongside sheep and goat, is the lifeline of pastoral economies. Camels were relied on for multiple things; transport, herding, pulling water from wells, milk, leather, hair, etc. The camel has been seen as an animal of mobility, survival, and status.

Ecologically, the camel is a perfect adaptation to the harsh desert environment. Its physiology makes it capable of withstanding high temperatures, storing fat in its hump for energy, and consuming thorny, saline vegetation, which makes it indispensable in regions like the Thar Desert, where few animals can thrive. Therefore, camels represent a sustainable economic resource: they provide transport, milk, wool, dung fuel, and, in more recent times, limited meat and tourism income.

Economically, the camel once functioned as the primary unit of wealth and exchange. A man’s social standing could be measured by the number of camels he owned. In desert societies where agriculture is unreliable, camels provide a livelihood. Their milk, rich in nutrients, serves as a vital food source during long migrations, while camel hair from its undercoat is spun into ropes and textiles. Camel dung, dry and odorless, is used as fuel in households that lack access to wood or other combustibles. Jaisalmeri camels are better suited for riding, while Bikaneri camels are better at pulling heavy loads. Every part of the animal found a place within the circular economy of desert life.

Beyond their economic contributions, camels hold a significant symbolic place within the social and ritual fabric of pastoral India. They are treated with immense care and affection, often regarded as equal family members. According to oral traditions among the Raikas of Rajasthan, it is believed that Lord Shiva created this tribe specifically to care for the first camel, entrusting them with a sacred duty. This narrative elevates the practice of animal husbandry to a spiritual level, transforming it from a mere occupation into a profound form of service and devotion. In various communities, gifting a camel signifies important life transitions, such as marriage or the passage into adulthood, symbolizing the continuity of lineage and the transfer of wealth. The camel's associations with fertility, endurance, and guardianship resonate throughout folk songs, proverbs, and stories, celebrating its loyalty and patience, and reinforcing its role as a material anchor for intangible social relations, particularly in the context of marriage.

Craftsperson Sadulram Ji's Camel, Lal

Dhova Gaon, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, October 2025

In some communities, gifting a camel marks transitions in life from marriage to

adulthood, signifying continuity of lineage and wealth. The camel’s association with fertility, endurance, and guardianship echoes through folk songs, proverbs, and stories that celebrate its loyalty and patience. It also serves as a material anchor for intangible social relations like marriage.

The labor around camels is deeply gendered. Men traditionally take charge of herding, trading, and maintaining camels, while women engage in related domestic and craft activities; spinning camel hair, making ropes, or preparing decorative gear. Making of the tang is a quintessential example of how male labor (animal management) and female labor (textile preparation) intersect to sustain pastoral economies.

It is interesting to see how this gendered collaboration reveals the interdependence of manual and material knowledge systems. The men’s understanding of camel behavior informs the design of harnesses and reins, while the women’s attention to detail and finesse produces workable yarns.

Anthropologically, this division of labor exemplifies how gender roles in craft and herding are complementary rather than hierarchical, each sustaining the ecological and social balance of pastoral life. This division of labor made ply split braiding into a household activity, as opposed to a male-centric one.

Folk songs from Rajasthan often describe the camel as a companion, a witness, even a confidant; an extension of the self. The bond between herder and camel is deeply emotional, akin to kinship. The Camel’s temperament: calm, enduring, and occasionally stubborn, mirrors that of the desert in a way. Moreover, having been an integral part of desert life, the camel has inspired many art forms, including but not limited to dance, paintings, and textiles, cementing its title as the most widely known cultural icon of Rajasthan. In a way, it represents both hardships and the beauty of life, survival without abundance, in contentment.

Heavily adorned camel in a Rajasthani miniature painting

Credit: International Indian Folk art gallery