Puppet Show

The Puppets in Rajasthan are one of the popular sources of entertainment in the state. The art of puppetry is practiced by a community of agricultural laborers in Rajasthan. Known as the Bhats, these people have been associated with Rajasthani string puppetry to carry forward their traditional occupation. Though they belong, originally, to the Nagaur area in the Marwar region, they travel all through the countryside to exhibit their skills. Also known by the name of the “kathputliwalas”, they usually perform puppet shows during the late evenings.

(Rajasthani Puppets) Kathputli From Rajasthan is one of the most popular performing arts of Rajasthan. A traditional folk dance, Kathputli is a puppet dance based on popular legends and performed by skilled Rajasthani puppeteers. Such is the popularity of the puppet-playing tradition in Rajasthan that the name of Kathputli Dance itself evokes images of Rajasthan and its folklore.

In the puppet shows of Rajasthan, there are a number of wooden dummy dolls that are dressed up in bright and colored attires. These puppets are attached with strings that the puppeteer uses to move them around. A miniature stage is set up with the help of a cot that is laid by length. The puppeteer tacks his puppets over a rope joined to the upper legs of the cots. The cots are covered with sheets in order to conceal the puppeteer from the view of the public. He moves the jointed limbs of the puppets with the help of strings attached to each of them.