Behrupiyas
- Behrupiya festival is a traditional Indian style of street theatre and takes place every year in different locations- Delhi, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kumbh, Muzaffarnagar and others.
- Behrupiyas are impersonators, mostly known to perform in villages and markets all over India.
- They put on various costumes to play figures from mythology, folklore and traditional stories.
- They assisted in circulating, transmitting and publicising the various knowledge forms in the popular domain of Samaj, the people.
- The vibrant tradition of Ramlila can also be seen as an extension of this practice which continues even today.
- Arthashastra makes a mention of religious processions in the Mauryan times where artistes dressed as gods and were taken out in tableaux all around the kingdom.
- Behrupiyas are also said to have helped freedom fighters during the struggle for Independence.
