In repertoire
खाटू श्याम
KhatuShyam
Barbarika, who gave his head — and became the refuge of the defeated.
The story
What is the story of Khatu Shyam?
Jaikara
हारे का सहारा, बाबा श्याम हमारा ।
hāre kā sahārā, bābā śyām hamārā
Refuge of the defeated — Baba Shyam, who is ours.
Bhavya Kavikala Arts stages Khatu Shyam around the Mahabharata's most generous act — Barbarika, who gave his head before the war began.
Grandson of Bhima and son of Ghatotkacha, Barbarika rides toward Kurukshetra with three arrows that tradition holds could end the entire war, bound by his vow to fight only for whichever side is losing. Krishna, seeing that such a vow would destroy both armies in turn, comes to him disguised as a Brahmin and asks the young warrior for the ultimate dāna — his own head. Barbarika gives it without argument, asking only to watch the war he came to fight. From a hilltop his head witnesses all eighteen days, and Krishna grants the boon that names him: in Kaliyuga he will be worshipped by Krishna's own name — Shyam.
Tradition holds that the head surfaced centuries later at Khatu in Rajasthan's Sikar district, where his temple now draws pilgrims in the lakhs — the deity of the defeated, hailed with the jaikara this page opens on: hāre kā sahārā.
The production sets the story under saffron nishan flags on a 40-foot LED backdrop, with 60+ artists in 150 hand-stitched costumes, Kavitaa Singh's live vocals, and direction by Arpit Sharma — performed in Hindi over an evening of about two and a half hours.
Scale of the work
A production built like a cathedral.
60
Performers
150
Costumes
40 ft
LED stage
Cast and creative
- Barbarika / ShyamCompany ensemble
- Live VocalsKavitaa Singh
- DirectorArpit Sharma
Before you come
Planning an evening at Khatu Shyam? Start here.
What is Khatu Shyam about?
Barbarika's vow and his supreme gift — how the Mahabharata's most generous warrior, who gave his own head, became Shyam Baba of Khatu.
How long is Khatu Shyam?
Plan for a full evening — the performance runs about two and a half hours.
What language is Khatu Shyam performed in?
Khatu Shyam is performed in Hindi. The dance, the live score and the 40 ft LED staging carry the story visually, so the evening lands even if you don't catch every line.
Is the music live?
Yes — the score is performed live at every show, with Kavitaa Singh on vocals and the mridangam as its heartbeat.
How many artists are on stage in Khatu Shyam?
60+ artists — dancers, musicians and technicians — wearing 150 hand-stitched costumes, performing against a 40 ft LED stage.
How do I book tickets for Khatu Shyam, and what do they cost?
Ticket prices and showtimes for Khatu Shyam are announced per show. The fastest way to book is the enquiry form on this site or WhatsApp at +91 89468 57267 — say which show and city you are asking about, and the team replies with the current details.
Can I bring children to Khatu Shyam?
Yes — all ages are welcome. These are devotional family shows, and evenings are built for families to attend together.
Something we haven’t answered? Ask us through the booking enquiry form — or explore partnering with the company as a patron.
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Bring Khatu Shyam to your stage