Documentary on bazigars of Punjab

Domain:Performing arts

State:

Description:

The video is a documentary on the Bazigars of Punjab. The Bazigars were mainly a nomadic tribe but now they have settled down in small basties or settlements on the outskirts of towns and villages of Punjab. They are a community of professional entertainers. The men are known for their acrobatic feats while the women are noted for their song and dance routines. The Bazigars usually perform in open spaces and the show starts with the nakal or clown whose main role is to gather audiences for the bazi performances. The Bazigars begin their performance with an invocation to the monkey god Hanuman for he is their presiding deity and they believe that Hanuman taught them the art of acrobatics. The bazi performances are accompanied by the sound of the drum. The bazi performances are often intercepted by comic interludes of nakal.