Dance of the Demoiselle Crane, Kichan Rajasthan
Until a decade or two ago, Khichan was just another forgotten village 144 kilometers north-west of Jodhpur. Today its on the world map, famous as the Demoiselle Crane Village, attracting bird lovers, photographers and tourists alike from India and abroad.
Gathered in huge groups, the demoiselle cranes, the smallest of the crane species, are a pleasure to watch. They move this way and that together, like in a ballet, their wide red eyes sparkling in the morning sun.
Dance of the Demoiselle Crane
In a dusty, nondescript village in west Rajasthan- an Indian state with an extraordinary respect for flora and fauna-villagers have established a tradition of feeding migratory birds who fly here all the way from Mongolia and China. These birds- the Demoiselle Cranes, descend on this village in thousands every morning to feed. The village- Khichan- is now on the world map and known as the Demoiselle Crane village. The villagers revere the birds and call them ‘Khujar’ feeding them tons of bird-feed every year.