E-CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN[PART-V]

PART - V

THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AND SAW.

'THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS' had been running successfully in Sonarpur.
They had now entered into their second successive week. The local
people of this town had been privileged with the opportunity of seeing
the circus.

The circus management, by now had extended their advertising propaganda
beyond the municipal boundaries of Sonarpur. They had at first targeted
the locals and with the rise of their popularity they went into the
rural areas or villages nearby to catch the people there.

Every morning, about four to five people of the circus troupe would go
out in their open jeep. They would traverse within the town limits
advertising and distributing pamphlets and posters. Then they would
head towards the four directions beyond the town area ______ one day to
the eastern extension, the next day the west, then the north and then
the southern direction ______ for propaganda and attracting these
simple country folks. They had to make themselves be known and their
presence be felt by the people so that more and more people would flux
in and give the circus a boost and encouragement and at the same time
make the circus-owner financially very supportive. Thus the circus
coffer began to get filled up by leaps and bounds, creating no
financial problems for Mr. Raman. These days one could find Mr. Raman
always in a jolly mood.

To increase their popularity among the country folks, they used extra
means and efforts. When they went out in their open colourful jeep,
they took with them two clowns, who were a source of attraction of
these simpletons. These simple common people, when they heard the crank
of the jeep's horn, rushed out of their houses ---- the children ran
after the jeep up to the place were it stopped. Then one of the clowns
took up a steel conical funnel shaped mouthpiece, which acted as a
loudspeaker, and held the smaller cylindrical opening close to his
mouth and began to shout through it at the top of his voice and attract
the people. H e spoke out in praise of the circus, gave a brief
description of the presentation of the different items and in the end
calling the people to come and witness at least one show, which would
really win their hearts. These two clowns wore typically striped and
floral pyjamas and their shirts had frills around the neckline and
sleeve ends. Their conical hats had special decorative items of
artificial fruits and flowers attached in comical and funny manner.
Thus, they were the special attractions and a good effort in attracting
more and more people.

As days began to pass, more and more country folks lined up and made
their way towards Sonarpur to see the circus. The villagers, as they
were not accustomed to urban life faced a lot of difficulties during
their visit to the town. These people made small groups and under the
leadership of one senior male member would start for their town side
journey early in the morning. They came by means of public transport
system some people carried their own food. Most of them had children
and ladies in their groups and thus preferred to see the matinee show,
so that they could return back to their houses at the early night
hours. At the same time, when young men came in twos and fours from the
rural areas, they preferred to see the evening or night show, have a go
all over the town, put up at a lodging at night and then move homewards
the next day. No doubt, coming to the town was a rare occasion for the
villagers. Mostly, these villagers came to the town only on special
occasions like visiting the town hospital for medical aid, or for
special medical benefits. Apart from this they came down to the town
for settling judicial matters, or even for bulk purchasing of their
requirements of their small outlets there. At times they came down to
the town to meet their relatives or even for reasons of their
own.

The coming of 'THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS' to Sonarpur did really change
the entire scenario of this town. There was activity, excitement and
business-- and business for the locals as well as the circus
authorities and the responsibilities of the district administration was
also at its height Precautions were taken to maintain law and order and
also maintain peace and harmony among the people of this town and also
for those who came from outside.

The allotted circus area, which was once very desolate and was a
sparsely used place, was full of life. By now people started calling
this circus ground as the 'Circus Maidan'.
At the mention of the word 'Circus Maidan', the people at once
understood that it was related to the circus ground where the circus
was going on.

Day by day, many temporary shops came up at the Circus Maidan. The
river that ran nearby had become very useful not only for the circus
people but also for those people who were not the residents of this
town. The outsiders came in the morning and loitered around the Circus
Maidan because they had a lot of time in hand before the circus started
its show. There was over crowding all around. These people rested under
the shade of the trees or under the shade of the tents of the temporary
stall. The municipal authorities had set up temporary toilets and they
took maximum precautions for maintaining proper hygiene.

Summer was at its height. The river waters had dried up a lot, leaving
a long stretch of sandy riverbed to reach the waters. The water level
was so low that an adult could move in this water stretch for quite a
distance to reach a knee level depth. Because of the unbearable heat,
most of the outsiders went to the river to bathe their hands and legs,
wash their faces and also their heads-of course some of them-to keep
themselves cool. Some of them even dipped theirs towels in the cool
river water, squeezed out the excess water and placed it over their
head and from time to time wiped their face, neck and hands to feel
cool and comfortable. The temporary toilets had been provided with
proper water supply, which no doubt was very helpful for the people.
All thanks were muttered in praise of the district administration for
manoeuvring and managing perfect order around the Circus Maidan.

A large number of food stalls had come up at the Circus Maidan with the
permission of the municipal authorities. Some stalls sold out snacks
and lunch and dinner also while there were some selling out fast food
items. Typical Indian lunch and dinner plates were served which
consisted of ________ rice, a plate of dal (a preparation of pulses), a
plate of fried vegetable of any kind, a plate of vegetable curry for
those who are vegetarians along with salad. For the non- vegetarians
they could choose from a plate of fish curry or chicken or mutton or
even egg curry. If one watched the people eating their meals it seemed
they were simply gobbling up their food out of sheer hunger. The '
gol-guppas' was a special favourite snack mostly among the young ones
---- it had a very sourly tinge which suited young palates. There were
some stalls, which sold egg, chicken, mutton or even vegetable rolls.
These food stalls also sold other Chinese delicacies falling under the
category of fast foods. These food stalls made brisk business.

There were a number of balloon sellers who were crowded by children
because they loved balloons. Apart from all this there were other
stalls selling out fancy items. Another item in demand was the 'lassi',
which was made of buttermilk, flavouring it with different syrups and
garnishing it with crushed ice and milk cream. Apart from the Annual
Fair of Sonarpur, this was one special occasion when there was a lot of
hubbub around this town.

The stalls that were put up played music for most of the time. The hit
songs of the Hindi films were played. The people enjoyed the music and
song and the children danced to the tune enjoying a lot.

There was light and light everywhere, in the Circus Maidan, after dusk.
It seemed that this place was celebrating the Indian Diwali ____ Diwali
which means the festival of lights. Coloured bulbs were put up at
different stalls and when night came they were switched on looking like
a cascade of bright colours. The whole area remained active till the
end of the night show.

As soon as the night show would break off, the whole Circus Maidan sank
into stillness. After a whole days work the people were so tired that
they did up with their work and sank into deep slumber. The fate of the
circus people was also the same. Even the animals calmed down and they
also fell into a deep sleep. Excepting some main lights, the other
lights were switched off and there were darkness all around. Darkness
and silence now went hand in hand and the whole area was now so calm
and peaceful. But, again the same activity would start with the break
of dawn.

There came some afternoons, when the wind carried dark clouds with them
and covered the sky associating themselves with thunderstorms. These
evenings of thunder storms and clouds are called ' Kalbaisakhi' that
come about in the early evening hours. At times the sky would pour but
most of the time the wind blew away the clouds. As the people of
eastern India were accustomed with these thunderstorms at this time of
the year, they did not feel any trouble with such weather condition.
But, on the other hand they got a sigh of relief from the sweltering
heat. These 'Kalbaisakhi's' did mar the circus business to some
extent.

This was the atmosphere that prevailed at the Circus Maidan during
these days. The people never thought that this activity, liveliness and
business were only prevalent as long as the circus tents were pitched
to this ground. Once it was demolished the whole area would once again
be back to square one.

To be continued????????.