Behrupiya, The Street Performer
Behrupiya, the original travelers and entertainers, once were the much sought after street performers in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They were masters of disguise and sometimes entrusted with spying for the kings. These performers usually dressed up as Hindu Gods and Goddesses and sang devotional songs during festivals.
Many were great at mimicry and impersonation and would entertain in courts of kings and on streets. Patronized by kings like Nawab Of Awadh, once, these performers are now living a life of poverty and resort to begging near temples during festivals.
Changing lifestyle and changing modes of entertainment pushed this art into obscurity. The communities like Bhand and Naqqal who were engaged in this traditional street art for generations have given up on it and their current generation finds the craft derogatory. But a few still try to make a living by roaming the city streets singing devotional songs.
Listen to them once in a while and you will realize that some of them have good voice and the songs are the folk songs that are lost in the blaring filmy renditions of nowadays.
I came across these ‘Behrupiyas‘ during my travels from Uttarakhand to Rajasthan to Tamilnadu and Maharashtra. It was interesting to hear them sing. A few knew more than one language and sang songs in dialects wherever they traveled to.
Listen to 2 different Behrupiyas here:
Astonishing India 
Great to read about Behrupiya.
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Thank you Rupam.
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What a beautiful tradition, and how unfortunate that it’s disappearing! I have to admire the artists who are still keeping it going.
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True. It is delight to see them mimic and sing
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What a beautiful tradition, and how unfortunate that it’s disappearing! I have to admire the artists who are still keeping it going.
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It’s funny how I have ignored them on the streets but loved reading about them here. Lovely post. 😊
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😁 Thank you. Most of them are resorting to begging as livelihood and therefore most of us steer clear of these behrupiyas.
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Nice post on Behrupiyas 👍 Shoma.
Reading it after long time. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you Sachin. I am glad you liked it
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Now a days i really miss them a lot coz they have became almost vanished, during my childhood days it used to be an interesting part of our lives to wait for them during a certain day of the week.
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Yes during festivals they were quite common. Now they have stopped.
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Shoma, I loved your post. It took me back to my childhood when my aunts took us to fairs in Kanpur. Then, there were the real behrupiyas changing the whole identity in entirety in a short span of time. I had forgotten about them until I came across your post. It has opened a floodgate of memories.
The ones who dress like the Gods and Goddesses can still be seen in Delhi in Surajkund Mela and all over during Dusshera even now. Fantastic post!
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Thank you Dipali. I remember fairs of Kanpur. I spent my childhood in some Uttarpradesh towns. Glad the post reminds you of fond memories. I haven’t seen many in Maharashtra though.
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Gajan is a festival in Kolkata and West Bengal where you can see many Bahurupis…Its like the mahakubh of bahurupis…
You should visit the Gajan festival once.
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Oh really. Wow I wasn’t aware. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully when I plan a trip eastward will include this.
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shoma maam i really liked the way you brought the long forgotten behrupiya under light.
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Thank you Dey. I wanted to write a longer post but could manage this only. Am glad you liked it.
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I first came to know about Behrupiyas from the movie ‘Dor’ but didn’t know they can be such skillful performers!
Nice writeup! 🙂
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Thank you. Yes they are basically performers…early actors may be. Muslim community of Behrupiyas was called Bhand
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I didn’t know that either! Thank you, M’am! 🙂
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🙂 You are welcome. I have a longer story written about Behrupiyas that I have sent to some publication. If luck favours it may see the light of day and then you can read in more detail.
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I am already looking forward to it! 🙂
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Me too…fingers crossed
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Thanks for sharing such an amazing article. After reading the article, I feel it your article will definitely help a lot to anyone.
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Thank you
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