RAS question
The Bhopa community primarily serves as:
Correct answer: (A) Itinerant priest-performers who narrate folk epics.
The Bhopa community primarily serves as itinerant priest-performers who narrate folk epics through Phad scroll performances.
Explanation
Bhopas are hereditary priest-performers linked with the Phad tradition of Rajasthan. India ICH, Sangeet Natak Akademi describes them as priests of local deities whose narratives are depicted on Phad scrolls, and says that the local priests, the Bhopas, render these stories musically. They are not stationary ritual specialists only, but performers who carry the scrolls from village to village, unfold them for performance, and narrate stories of epic dimensions about local deities and legendary heroes. Their identity is therefore best understood as itinerant priest-performers of folk epics, using the Phad as both narrative medium and devotional object.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Temple priests only is too narrow because Bhopas are described as local priests who carry Phad scrolls from village to village and perform the deity narratives.
- (C) Farmers does not fit because Bhopas are identified with performing and narrating Phad-linked folk deity stories.
- (D) Blacksmiths is unrelated to the role described here, as Bhopas are associated with priestly narration and musical performance, not metalwork.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's folk performance traditions, especially the social role attached to Phad narration. It recurs in RAS because art-and-culture questions often ask communities, objects, and performance roles together rather than as isolated names.