Tamasha artistes’ income hit by precautions for COVID-19 in city

PUNE: Last year, it was Lok Sabha elections and this year COVID-19. Once again, tamasha artistes are facing losses due to cancellation of their shows as all public gatherings such as jatras (fairs) and mahotsav (festivals) have been cancelled in the State.

Every year, after Rangpanchami, the season for jatras (fair) and mahotsavs (festival) begins in the State in places like Ahmednagar, Satara and Pune and continue till Buddha Pournima, which falls in the month of May. Tamasha artistes with their teams travel to these places and perform. 

“Every year, we face some or other hurdle. If sometimes it was drought, last year it was Model Code of Conduct and this year coronavirus. As the government has asked us to cancel all the festivals, around seven shows of our team have been cancelled. Our five generations are in tamasha and these two months were when we work to survive for the entire year. However, once again, we are not able to earn any money it seems,” said Mangala Bansode of Mangala Bansode Sahnitin Bansode Kawedkar Loknatya Tamasha Mandal from Satara. She said one show helps them earn Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh.

Raghubir Khedkar of Raghubir Khedkar Sahkantaba Satarkar Tamasha Mandal from Sangamner echoed the same sentiments. He said, “This year, due to coronavirus, the State government has cancelled all festivals and gatherings, due to which around 15 shows of ours have been cancelled resulting in huge losses. This was unavoidable as everyone is scared.”