Literast

Circus has become a 'dying' art performance in India, even before the arrival of the corona virus pandemic (covid-19). When co-19 began to plague throughout India, the circus business in the country was getting worse.

Biju Pushkaran, 50, was wearing polka-dot dress. Her face was covered with white powder, with flushed red cheeks and extra stick. After all the preparations were finished, he entered an empty tent in Airoli, a suburb in the city of Mumbai.

 

Rambo Circus, where Biju works, has not performed since March 6. But on Thursday night April 16th, Rambo Circus broadcast their show via livestreaming in commemoration of World Circus Day.

"We will be at your house and make you all laugh," Biju said, quoted by the BBC, Saturday 25 April 2020.

All Rambo Circus personnel performed attractions without the applause of the audience. But in the middle of the show, they realized that the Rambo Circus attraction might end forever.

Rambo Circus personnel had run out of food and money shortly after the Indian Government adopted a lockdown policy on March 24. Some of them are forced to ask for help to the public.

In the state of West Bengal, Chandranath Banerjee, 61, has closed Olympic Circus and asked 75 of its personnel to return to their homes. He promised to call back all personnel if they all "can survive in the midst of this dark period."

"They are crying," Chandranath said. "We need people to come and watch the show. With this kind of isolation we are forced to stop," he continued.

Jayaprakasan PV, 52, manager of the Great Bombay Circus, refused to surrender. He still set up circus tents as usual in the city of Manargudi, in the state of Tamil Nadu.

"Everyone does not know what will happen when the lockdown is revoked. Right now we can only wait," Jayaprakasan said. 

About two decades ago, India had 23 active circus groups joined in a national federation. About 300 other small-scale circus groups are also scattered across India.

In 2013, the Government of India banned the use of wild animals and children in circus shows. The ban made many circus groups bankrupt.

At present there are less than 10 circus groups registered in India, with another 25 smaller scale. There are also around 1,500 artists, including the acrobatics team, who are from the state of Manipur.

They have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide loan funds in order to stay afloat amid the co-19 pandemic. Currently they are still waiting for the government's response.

A similar situation also occurs in other regions. The world-renowned circus group, Cirque du Soleil, became a global spotlight after laying off 95 percent of its total personnel last month.

Zsuzsanna Mata, executive director of the World Circus Federation (FMC), said that "the pandemic (covid-19) has changed history. Without income, the circus business is striving hard to continue to support its personnel and their families."