As mobile screens take over, Bharatpur's shape-shifting bahurupiya performers struggle to find an audience In Bharatpur's Brij region, the centuries-old bahurupiya tradition of shape-shifting street performers is fading as mobile phones and digital entertainment pull audiences away. A performer who could turn into a king, a sadhu or a deity within minutes once turned every village fair in Rajasthan into a stage. That performer, known as a bahurupiya, is now struggling to find an audience at all as digital entertainment takes over daily life. An art built on becoming someone else Bahurupiya art has long been recognised as one of Rajasthan's distinct folk traditions, one of the customs that gives the state a separate cultural identity across the country. Bahurupiya performers would dress up and act out a wide range of characters, using dialogue, expressions and acting skill to entertain crowds. For years, this was one of the main sources of entertainment in villages and in the lanes of towns. In the Brij region around Bharatpur, the art form has carried particular weight. Bahurupiyas were a regular and welcome sight at fairs, religious events and public functions held in villages, and their arrival was often the biggest draw of the occasion. A single performer might appear as a king or emperor one day, a sadhu or saint the next, and take the form of a deity or a historical figure on another occasion. Whichever character they chose, their acting and entertaining style was enough to pull large crowds together to watch. Talent over resources What set bahurupiya performers apart was never just their costumes or make-up. The real skill lay in how completely they lived a character through their acting, holding an audience's attention for hours with very limited resources at their disposal. That talent is precisely what turned bahurupiya performances into such a significant part of Rajasthan's folk culture over the years. Mobile screens replace the village crowd The nature of entertainment itself has since changed completely. Mobile phones, internet access, social media, television and other digital platforms have reshaped how people choose to spend their leisure time. Where audiences once stepped out of their homes specifically to watch a performer, entertainment today arrives directly on a mobile screen, removing much of the need to go looking for it. This shift has hit bahurupiya artists directly, affecting both their livelihood and the standing of their art form. A number of performers still dress up and go out among people to keep the tradition going, but they no longer receive the same enthusiasm or respect from audiences that earlier generations once did. Younger people, too, are steadily drifting away from the art form, leaving fewer prospects for it to be carried forward. A tradition that needs protection The case being made now is that bahurupiya art should no longer be treated only as a form of entertainment but recognised and protected as part of Rajasthan's folk heritage. That would mean giving performers proper platforms to showcase their skills, along with financial support and fresh opportunities to reach new audiences, so the art can be passed on to future generations. Without that support, the tradition that once echoed through village after village risks being drowned out entirely by digital noise. What this means for you This story is directly tied to the survival of one of Rajasthan's old folk arts, affecting both the livelihood of performers and a piece of cultural heritage. • Across India: Many local folk arts are fading in the same way as bahurupiya performance, squeezed out by digital entertainment. Without timely support, several such traditions across the country risk disappearing within a generation. • In Bharatpur/Rajasthan: Bahurupiya performers in the Brij region are seeing both their income and their standing decline. Continued support from local administration and cultural bodies, through platforms and funding, will decide whether the art survives locally. • For performers: Fewer invitations to fairs and public events mean a direct hit to their regular earnings. Many will need to actively seek out new stages and events to stay afloat. • For culture enthusiasts and tourists: Visitors to Rajasthan can look out for bahurupiya performances at local fairs and cultural events and support the artists by attending and encouraging them. Why this happened The decline of bahurupiya art traces back mainly to a broad shift in how people consume entertainment, rather than any drop in the performers' skill. • Rise of digital alternatives: Mobile phones, internet access, social media and television gave people entertainment at home, reducing the pull to step out and watch traditional performers. • Changing audience habits: Crowds that once gathered at fairs and village events are now spread across mobile screens, leaving bahurupiya performers with far less enthusiasm and respect from audiences than before. • Younger generation drifting away: Fewer young people are drawn to the art form, shrinking the pool of performers who might learn and carry it forward. • Lack of institutional support: Without regular platforms, financial assistance or institutional backing for performers, the art has been steadily pushed to the margins. Questions & Answers 1. What is bahurupiya art? It is a Rajasthani folk art in which performers dress up as characters like kings, sadhus, deities or historical figures and entertain audiences through dialogue and acting. 2. Where has this art form been especially popular? The Brij region around Bharatpur has had a particularly strong tradition of bahurupiya performance. 3. Why is bahurupiya art declining? Mobile phones, internet access, social media and television have changed how people consume entertainment, leaving fewer people watching this art form. 4. Are performers still practicing this art today? Yes, some performers still dress up and go out among people, but they no longer receive the same enthusiasm or respect as before. 5. What is needed to preserve this art form? Performers need proper platforms, financial support and new opportunities so the art can be passed on to future generations. 6. Where did bahurupiya performers traditionally perform? They performed at village fairs, religious events and public functions. https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/mobaila-skrina-ke-age-phiki-pari-bharatpur-ki-bahurupiya-kala-kalakaron-ko-nahin-mila-raha-sammana-29447 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.