>Noq at 11:21, 25 December 2020

2020-12-25T11:21:35Z

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{{More citations needed|date=January 2008}}
The '''Bhopa''' people are the priest-singers of the folk deities in the state of [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. They perform in front of a scroll, known as {{transl|hi|[[phad painting|phad]]}} (''par'' in the [[Rajasthani language]]) that depicts the episodes of the narrative of the folk deity and functions as a portable temple. The Bhopas carry this ''phad'' traditionally, and are invited by villagers to perform in their localities during times of sickness and misfortune. Traditionally, the {{transl|hi|phads}} are kept rolled in transit. After reaching a village or town, the Bhopas erect the {{transl|hi|phad}}s between two poles in a suitable public place shortly after nightfall. The performance goes on throughout the night and terminates only in early morning<ref>Smith, John D. (2005). ''The Epic of Pabuji'', New Delhi: Katha, {{ISBN|81-87649-83-6}}, pp.15-6</ref>

==The ''phad vacno''s (performances) by the Bhopas==
Bhopas belong to a variety of castes, including Gurjar, Rajput and Nayak.
The epic narratives of the folk deities are told by the Bhopas during the {{transl|hi|jagarans}} (night-wakes). The purpose of these {{transl|hi|jagarans}} are to evoke the {{transl|hi|prakas}} (presence) of the folk deities. The sequence which a ''phad vacno'' (performance) follows can be summarized as follows:<ref name=exploration>{{cite web|url=http://www.ignca.nic.in/devnp006.htm|title=The Rajasthani oral narrative of Devnarayan-Presentation Mode, Performance and Performers|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts|access-date=2009-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518130026/http://www.ignca.nic.in/devnp006.htm|archive-date=2011-05-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>
# Purificatory rites are carried out before setting up the phad, which include sweeping the ground beneath the phad clean and burning incense sticks.
# The phad is set by fastening the rope that runs through the red band sewn on at the top to wooden poles set at each end.
# The Bhopa wears the special costume, known as ''baga''.
# Grains and money are offered for consecrating the phad.
# The deities, whose images are depicted at the top of the phad are invoked.
# The Bhopa begins [[Prosimetrum|prosimetric]] narration of the epical narrative which consists of verse sections, known as ''gav''s and followed by prose sections known as ''arthav''s (explanations). The ''gav''s consist of a number of ''kari''s (couplets). The Bhopa points out each scene on the phad with a stick and narrates the episode.
# Donations are collected during frequent pauses for food, tea, tobacco or rest. The Bhopa blows a conch-shell, one blast after receiving each donation. The name of the donor is announced by the Bhopa.
# An [[arati]] for the deities and the characters on the phad is carried out at the end of the performance.
# Offerings are again made at the end of the performance, when the phad is rolled back again before sunrise.

== Bhopas of Pabuji ==
The Bhopa sings various episodes from the narrative of Pabuji and his wife known as Bhopi holds an oil lamp near the visual being described. The Bhopi also sings some parts of the episodes. [[Mohan Bhopa]] (who - till his demise in 2011 - performed along with his wife Batasi Bhopi) is a celebrated present-day singer-priest of Pabuji, covered by author and historian [[William Dalrymple (historian)|William Dalrymple]] in his famed book [[Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India|Nine Lives]]. After her husband's death, Batasi now performs with her eldest son Mahavir.

==Bhopas of Devnarayan==
There are three different types of Bhopas of deity [[Devnarayan]] namely the temple Bhopas, the Jamat Bhopas and the Par Bhopas. The Jamat Bhopas of Deity Devnarayan can only be from [[Gurjar]] community as the jamat is related to Devji sect, however par Bhopas and temple Bhopas belong to different castes including Gurjars, Rajputs, Kumbhars and balais.<ref>Painted folklore and folklore painters of India: a study with reference to Rajasthan, Om Prakash Joshi,Concept Pub. Co., 1976, pp.30 & 31</ref><ref>Smith, John D. (2005). ''The Epic of Pabuji'', New Delhi: Katha, {{ISBN|81-87649-83-6}}, p.16</ref> During the performance, a ''[[Jantar (instrument)|jantar]]'' (a type of fretted [[veena]] with two resonators of gourd or wood) is played to accompany the songs. Usually there are two Bhopas who recite the epic, one is the main Bhopa, the ''Patavi'', and the other is his assistant, the ''Diyala''. When the ''Patavi Bhopa'' sings a particular episode of the epic, his junior partner, the ''Diyala Bhopa'' lights an oil lamp and illuminates the particular part of the ''phad'', where the particular episode which is being sung is depicted. He also sings some parts of the episodes.

== See also ==
* [[Pabuji Ki Phad]]

== Notes ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhopa}}
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rajasthani culture]]
[[Category:Indian male folk singers]]

Bhopa - Revision history

>Noq at 11:21, 25 December 2020