Bhopas

Bhopas are a community of folk musicians and storytellers found in Rajasthan, India. They are primarily known for their devotional songs and performances dedicated to folk deities, most famously Pabuji, a 14th-century Rathore warrior and folk hero. Bhopas are hereditary performers, with the tradition passed down through generations. Their performances often involve a unique musical instrument called the Ravanahatha, a type of bowed fiddle, and a scroll or cloth painting known as a phad.

The phad serves as a visual narrative of the epic tales of Pabuji and other deities. During a performance, the bhopa unfurls the phad, which is a long, rectangular cloth painted with vibrant scenes and figures. The bhopa then sings and recounts the stories depicted on the phad, using the Ravanahatha to accompany his singing. The performance is usually held at night, often under the open sky, and is accompanied by the female singers, known as the bhopi, who are typically the bhopa's wife or daughter. The phad paintings themselves are intricate works of art, created by specialized artists called chhipas. The bhopas play a vital role in preserving and transmitting the oral traditions and local folklore of Rajasthan.