Parrots on bicycles, tigers in the ring, and a thousand claps: India's lost circus charm

India Today

10 hours ago

It began like a quiet buzz in the neighbourhood. Someone said they saw posters near the bus stop, someone else swore they heard a lion's roar from the maidan. By evening, it was official: the circus had come to town.In homes across India during the 80s and 90s, this news lit up the house like Diwali. Chai cups were abandoned mid-sip, children ran barefoot to catch a glimpse of the tents going up, and grandparents reminisced about the last time they saw a man ride two horses at once. Plans were made.Weekends were marked. Clothes were ironed a day early. It didn't matter if your pocket money was tight or if your school had a test, the circus was non-negotiable.advertisementMothers packed snacks in steel dabbas, fathers negotiated half-day leaves from work, and cousins from the neighbourhood were rounded up like a battalion. Some came dressed in their best shiny frocks, buttoned shirts, oiled hair neatly parted. Getting ready for the circus was as exciting as getting ready for a festival.
Tickets in hand, everyone would pile into rickshaws, scooters, or Ambassador cars. The excitement peaked as the giant tent came into view striped red-and-white canvas, rising like a fantasy palace.MAGIC UNDER THE BIG TOPThe circus tent wasn't just a shelter, it was a portal. The moment you stepped inside, the real world disappeared. It would start with a drumroll so loud it made your heart race. Then came the parade elephants with painted trunks, camels swaying like royalty, and ponies with bells on their ankles, all moving in perfect rhythm under the spotlights.Children stood on their toes for a better look; some gasped, others just grinned with open mouths, not wanting to blink and miss a second.
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Then came the thrills, gymnasts twisting in the air like falling stars, motorcyclists tearing through the 'Maut ka Kuan' while the crowd held its breath, and artists flying through the air like they'd grown wings. Every stunt felt like a heartbeat skipped, every landing brought a burst of claps and whistles.Grown-ups clapped like they were ten years old again. Sometimes, a parrot will ride a miniature cycle. And then, the moment everyone waited for: the tiger. Caged until its turn, the majestic beast would be led into the ring to jump through hoops or balance on stools, its trainer cracking the whip in the air.And always, someone would whisper: "Dekho dekho, asli sher hai!"And then came the favourite clown. Sometimes three or four clowns chase each other with floppy shoes, falling into buckets, pulling endless handkerchiefs from their sleeves, and surprising kids with flowers that spray water.You could smell popcorn in one direction, sawdust in the other, and the thrill of something real in every corner of that tent.THE GLORY DAYS: INDIA 'S ICONIC CIRCUSESNames like Gemini Circus, Jumbo Circus, Great Bombay Circus, and Rambo Circus were household legends. They weren't just entertainment brands; they were travelling universes.For Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the circus was often the biggest event of the year.advertisementIt didn't matter if it was sweltering or raining, people came.
'I went with my grandparents and cousins,' recalls Meena D'Souza, 42, from Pune. We dressed up like we were going to a wedding. That was our big family outing no malls, no Netflix, just pure joy in a dusty field under a tent.'CURTAIN CALL: WHY THE CIRCUS BEGAN TO FADEBut like many childhood delights, the circus quietly began to disappear. The reasons were many and layered.Changing entertainment habits: The arrival of cable TV in the late 90s, and later smartphones and YouTube, changed what kids found thrilling. Why wait for the circus once a year when you could watch superheroes fly any day on screen?Animal welfare laws: Rightfully so, the conversation around animal cruelty grew louder. In 1991, the government banned the use of certain wild animals. In 2017, the Supreme Court banned the use of all wild animals in circuses, making elephants, lions, tigers, and bears vanish from the ring.
advertisementRising costs, shrinking returns: Tent rentals, transport, staff accommodation, animal care all cost money. But with dwindling footfall and urban space, most circuses couldn't sustain themselves.Forgotten artists: Many performers came from circus families, passing down skills through generations. With the decline, some migrated to street shows, weddings, or low-paying stunt jobs. Others just disappeared into anonymity. But behind the dazzle, a darker truth quietly existed.Over the years, awareness grew about the conditions animals were kept. The long, harsh training hours, confined cages, and unnatural tricks led to concerns about cruelty and exploitation. By the 1990s, animal rights groups began voicing strong opposition.In 1991, the government banned the use of certain wild animals, and in 2017, the Supreme Court prohibited all performances involving wild creatures elephants, tigers, lions, monkeys, and birds. The cages were locked for the last time. The ring fell silent.
advertisement'It was magical to watch, no doubt,' admits Vikram Solanki, 50, who saw his first circus at age 7. 'But knowing now what those animals went through, it's heartbreaking." Back then, we didn't know better. We just saw wonder.'Today, we remember those animal acts not to glorify cruelty, but to acknowledge a chapter of childhood that was both mesmerising and, in hindsight, flawed. It was a different time, one filled with wide eyes, loud claps, and innocent hearts that didn't yet know what went on behind the curtain.CAN THE CIRCUS BE SAVED?Today, only a handful of circuses operate in India, often struggling, often unseen. Some have tried to modernise, focusing on acrobatics, dance, LED shows, and animal-free performances. But the digital generation is harder to enchant. Still, nostalgia persists.
You'll find it in old family photo albums, in school essays beginning with "The best day of my life...", or in conversations where someone says, 'Do you remember that time we all went to the circus?'The circus may have packed its tent, but for a generation that grew up with its magic, it never really left. In a world of curated feeds and digital filters, the raw, sweaty thrill of the circus remains unmatched.Because once upon a time in India, when the circus came to town, the whole town went with it.Must Watch