Kathputli Puppetry

Source: TH

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: Jaipur’s Kathputli Nagar, home to nearly 250 families of traditional puppeteers, has drawn attention for preserving one of Rajasthan’s oldest living folk art traditions.

About Kathputli Puppetry:

What it is?

• Kathputli is a form of traditional string puppetry of Rajasthan, where wooden dolls dressed in colourful costumes are animated with strings to narrate stories of kings, warriors, folklore and moral tales.

Regions: It originated and is mainly practiced in Rajasthan, especially in Jaipur, Nagaur, Churu and Sikar, with Kathputli Nagar in Jaipur being its largest living hub.

History:

• Kathputli is believed to be over 1,000 years old and was traditionally performed by travelling Bhat and Nat communities to entertain and educate village audiences during fairs, royal courts and festivals.

Key features:

• Wooden string puppets with bold eyes and exaggerated facial expressions.

• Colourful Rajasthani costumes inspired by royal and desert traditions.

• Narrative performances accompanied by folk music like dholak and harmonium.

• Themes include Rajput history, folk heroes, social satire and moral stories.

Traditional Puppetry of India:

State/Region | Major traditional puppetry forms (local names)

Tamil Nadu | · Tolu bommalatam (shadow) · Bommalatam (string-cum-rod) · Pava koothu (glove)

Kerala | · Tolpava koothu (shadow) · Pavakathakali (glove) · Nool pavakoothu (string)

Andhra Pradesh | · Tolu bommalata (shadow) · Koyya bommalata (string/wooden) · Keelu bommalata (string) · Sutram bommalata (string)

Karnataka | · Togalu gombeyata (shadow/leather) · Sutrada gombeyata / Gombeyata (string) · Yakshagana gombeyata (string—coastal) · Salaki gombeyata (rod/string mix) · Chinni patti (glove)

Maharashtra | · Chamdyacha bahulya (leather/shadow) · Kalasutri bahulya (string) · Chitrakathi / Chitren dekhavane (picture narration linked tradition)

Rajasthan | · Kathputli ka khel (string puppetry)

Uttar Pradesh | · Gulabo–Sitabo (glove puppetry)

Odisha (Orissa) | · Ravanachhaya (shadow) · Gopalila kundhei (string) · Sakhi kundhei (glove) · Kathi kundhei nacha (rod)

West Bengal | · Tarer/Sutor putul nach (string) · Danger putul nach (rod) · Benir putul (glove)

Tripura | · Putul nach (string)

Assam | · Putala nach / Putul nach (string)

Manipur | · Laithibi jagoi (string)

· Bommalatam (string-cum-rod)

· Pava koothu (glove)

· Pavakathakali (glove)

· Nool pavakoothu (string)

· Koyya bommalata (string/wooden)

· Keelu bommalata (string)

· Sutram bommalata (string)

· Sutrada gombeyata / Gombeyata (string)

· Yakshagana gombeyata (string—coastal)

· Salaki gombeyata (rod/string mix)

· Chinni patti (glove)

· Kalasutri bahulya (string)

· Chitrakathi / Chitren dekhavane (picture narration linked tradition)

· Gopalila kundhei (string)

· Sakhi kundhei (glove)

· Kathi kundhei nacha (rod)

· Danger putul nach (rod)

· Benir putul (glove)