The Great Golden Circus is on show in Mumbai. But, if the last time, you visited a circus was many, many years ago, you may want to skip this one. No wild animals, no dare-devil acts and no crowd – just the shimmering costumes of the artistes to remind you of the days when a circus was the most awaited event in town.

The day this correspondent visited the circus, it had rained heavily the night before and the first show was cancelled. The officials refused photographs since the complex was immersed in water. “As it is, times are hard, you publish such messy photos and no one will come at all,” said Mohan Sahani, one of the organisers.

But it is not the rains that have dampened the spirit of Great Golden Circus or any of the other circuses playing across the country. The exit of wild animals from circus brought in the first gloom a decade ago. With no tigers jumping through rings of fire or lions playing ball, the circus began losing its magic.

Only elephants, dogs and horses were allowed to perform but with these animals a common sight in India, why go to a circus to see them? And now, there is talk that even these animals will be banned.

With wild animals gone, it is left to humans to run the show. Hence, a circus typically has endless people-performances in quick succession. Artistes double up with different stunts. At this circus in Mumbai, the trapeze act which was also a craze in the earlier years has mellowed down and there were no aerial tricks in the first half at least.

There were a plethora of ‘acts’ though. From Nigerians performing gutsy aerobatics to women from north-east displaying daring spear exploits. But even for these, there were no takers – just a handful of visitors huddled in small groups watching the show. Most of these were bored parents accompanying their children.

The organisers are a beleaguered lot. They say their love for the pantomime keeps them going but with no animals and no guests, life is getting only more difficult with every new show. Adds Mr Sahani: “Today children have video games and they go to malls or movies and pass time. There are also animal and nature television channels, so how will a circus compete?”

True, parents who came for the show said that it was a way to get children off their study books and ‘mobile’ games. But none of them wanted to visit the circus again.

The organisers will have to tweak their antiquated USP and find other ways to get in the crowds and the moolah. May be include some bizarre performances or just get the animals back. Agreed, that circus animals are treated shabbily but nothing comes close to hearing the loud roar of a tiger or a lion while seated just a few feet away.