Cholistan Desert begins from some 35 km from Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Locally known as Rohi, it stretches over an area of 16000 sq km and passing through Sindh, extends to Thar Desert in India. It is the dry bed of Ghagra River, said to have mysteriously disappeared centuries ago.

Camels are the only source of transportation, domestic use and entertainment for many semi nomadic communities of Cholistan. People live a simple life, love music and signing to compensate for desolate wilderness around them. Since desert offers no colors, they wear vibrant combinations of warm colors and decorate mud houses and domestic animals with these colors.

They flock to desert festivals of Sufi saints on camel driven carts. Camels are carefully decorated for these occasions.  Eldest members of community hold well bred camels with pride and bring them to camel dance competitions. They spend days and nights on camel carts, sleep on them, and hide under them when the day gets hotter. They dance and sing songs on camel carts at dawn and dusk.

Cholistani people express their love and care for their camels by decorating them with colorful hump covers saddles and reins. They make intricate patterns with color on camel skin. More talented artists spend days to cut camel skin hair in such a fashion that it turns into a dramatic design. It may take a week or a month depending upon the pattern of design.