Pakistan is land of variety and so are her professions. Juggler are a very common sight in Pakistan. They provide an amusement and fun.They are generally found in small towns, villages and at fairs. In a big cities like Lahore we come across very few jugglers because there is not much open space where a juggler can give his performance. Besides there is not much open space where a juggler thing and a great rush of traffic. The police does not allow them to show their feats which may attract big crowds. People have so many other attractions and mean of recreation that they show no interest in the antiqued tricks of the jugglers. The educated people in particular can't afford to waste their time over it.
A juggler however is popular among women, children and old men.They stand amazed at his wonderful tricks and gimmicks. They consider him to be a magician.
A juggler is very shabbily dressed. He has a long loose coat a big turban a dhoti and a pair of old socks. Often he has big earrings and some finger rings. He has with him a small boy who carries his stock in trade in a bag or basket and the bag contains the articles which a juggler needs for the show.
At first the juggler selects a suitable place for the performance. He spreads a piece of cloth on the ground and begin to play on the flute. The boy with him begins to beat the drum. The juggler is adept in playing on the flute. He can produce difference tunes so as to attract a sufficiently large crowd of people before beginning the tricks. He is clever witty and quick in movements. All the time he is smiling. He surprises the spectators by his timely jokes and witty remarks.
A juggler has many gimmicks to show. He generally begins with the card tricks. He can correctly tell the card which is pulled out of the pack by a spectator. He shows other feats of wonder. Then he shows ball tricks which are very interesting and surprising. He takes a number of ball and throws them up in the air in quick succession. The balls revolving in a circle without any of them falling on the ground.The feat depends on the ingenuity and regular practice. Sometimes the juggler asks a man to give him his ring. He covers it with a piece of cloths and waves his magic wand over it. When he removes the cloth, the people are amazed to find that the ring has disappeared. The owner is anxious to get back the ring. When the juggler sees that his patience is exhausted he ask some other persons in the crowd to search his pocket. Much of the bewilderment of all the ring is found there and thus handed back to the owner.
He also shows a mango branch sprouting into a young tree. His basket trick is also very interesting. He puts a big basket over the boy's body.He runs his dagger through it many times. The people near the boy shriek and cry. They see the sword covered with blood. They think that the boy must be dead. But when he removes the basket, they see nobody under it. The boy comes from somewhere in the crowd and is quite safe and sound. The people shout with joy and cheer the trick.
With the help of his wand the juggler can multiply the number of his currency notes and coins and becomes rich for a short time. But again he is the same poor man loitering from place to place in search of bread..
The juggler's skills requires dexterity and a long practice. He earns a living by his quick feats and the eye cannot follow his movements. He is active and smart but will all that he is generally poor.
After the performance he goes round with his bowl asking the spectators to put something in it. The spectators drop some coins in the bowl. This is how he earns his living and remain in tattered clothes and is generally semi-fed......
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