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.
