Art & Culture: Indian Puppetry

Puppetry is one of India’s oldest forms of entertainment. References to it are found in the Silappadikaram and the Mahabharata.

Types of Puppetry in India

• String Puppets: Examples include Kathputli (Rajasthan), Kundhei (Odisha), and Gombeyatta (Karnataka).
• Shadow Puppets: Flat figures operated against a screen. Examples: Tholu Bommalata (Andhra Pradesh) and Togalu Gombeyatta (Karnataka).
• Glove Puppets: Also known as sleeve or hand puppets. A famous example is Pavakoothu from Kerala.
• Rod Puppets: Larger puppets supported by rods. Examples: Putul Nautch (West Bengal) and Yampuri (Bihar).

Regional Specialties

• Kathputli: Unique because of the absence of legs; the puppets are draped in long trailing skirts.
• Ravana Chhaya: A unique shadow puppetry from Odisha where the puppets have no joints.
• Bommalattam: From Tamil Nadu; it combines features of both rod and string puppetry.

Question for you: In which state is the traditional shadow puppetry known as ‘Tholpavakoothu’ practiced?

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