Bhopa
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RogDel
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{{Unreferenced|date=January 2008}}
'''Bhopa''' is a community in [[Rajasthan]] state of [[India]]. They are considered to be priest singers who depict the story of folk deities, traditionally told by professional story tellers who deliver it in front of a [[tapestry]] that depicts the characters of the story, and functions as a portable temple, accompanied by a ''[[ravanhattha]]'' fiddle they tell it to the public through songs. This painted [[tapestry]] is called [[Phad]] in [[Rajasthani language]]. The Phad is a 30 feet long sheet on which are painted (or sewn) miniature scenes
depicting the life of [[Pabuji]], a [[14th century]] hero, on which his adventures are depicted. The singer has a stick with which he points out each scene and narrates the story. The light is provided by his wife who holds a lantern alongside him. The Bhopas carry this traditionally, and are invited by villagers to perform in their areas during times of sickness and misfortune. The ballad is sung by the Bhopa as he plays the Ravan-hattha musical instrument.
==See also==
* [[Pabuji Ki Phad]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
{{India-ethno-stub}}
[[Category:Indian folklorists]]