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Rajasthan

The Enchanting World of Rajasthan Kathputlis

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From the Land of Royals

Rajasthan, the largest state in India by area, is a state that is a repertoire of history, culture and architecture. Known for its vibrant folk music and dance, colorful attire and amazing food, this exotic land of royals is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Every year, millions of tourists from all around the world, throng to this beautiful state to experience its fascinating landscapes, colorful arts and crafts, and magnificent historical monuments. Whether its the forts and palaces of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur, the sand dunes of the Thar Desert, the wildlife sanctuaries of Ranthambore and Sariska or the UNESCO World heritage site of Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, the state of Rajasthan has a lot to offer to its visitors. One of the major attractions that this state has, is its age- old, effervescent performing art form called ‘Kathputli’, with ‘kath’ meaning wood and ‘Putli’ meaning doll. Having received its Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2006, the ‘Kathputli’ is a vibrant art that is an essential part of the region’s social fabric. 

Strings of Tradition

The Kathputli of Rajasthan is believed to be more than a thousand- year- old form of puppetry. Practiced mainly by the ‘Bhat’ community (a nomadic community of Rajasthan), who claim that this art form was performed by their ancestors for the royal families of the region. The ‘Bhats’, sometimes also called as ‘Nats’ were puppeteers who wandered from village to village along with their portable theatres. They entertained the gatherings by narrating stories of heroes from mythological and social traditions. Today, these communities have settled down in different parts of Rajasthan and continue to practice this ancient craft. The Rajasthan Kathputlis have their own unique specialty. Carved out of a single piece of wood, these puppets are approximately 30 centimeters in height, with a headgear that is also carved out of the same wood. The eyes of the Kathputlis are elongated and stylized while the faces are usually painted yellow. The bodies and limbs are made of mango wood and stuffed with cotton. Most of the puppets have no legs and thus the movements are free. Attached to long strings, the puppets are draped in long trailing skirts that hide the missing legs. With a slight jerk of strings that are wrapped around their fingers, the puppeteers regulate the movements of the hands, neck and shoulders of these puppets.

A Kathputli performance is presented to the audience by placing two string beds vertically and tying bamboos across them. A dark colour curtain is hung at the back, while a colourful curtain with three arches, called Tibara, hangs at the front. This curtain hides the puppeteers’ body and feet during the performance. Dialogues are coordinated with songs sung by women, along with music from dholak (musical instrument), while the Kathputlis dance to the tune of the Bhats’ fingers. The captivating performances of Kathputlis, accompanied by music, drama and storytelling, can leave one spell bound for hours. The dexterity with which the ‘Nats’ pull the strings making the puppets dance to the rhythm of their fingers, is truly mesmerizing. Amongst the many stories performed at a Kathputli show, the most popular one is the story of King Amar Singh Rathode, who lived around the time of Shahjahan.


Rajasthani puppets (Kathputli) have been displayed on a shop at Mehrangarh Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Kathputli is a string puppet theatre, native to Rajasthan, India

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Rajasthan

The Heritage of ‘Kathputali’

The Rajasthan Kathputli is an art form that is not just a source of entertainment, but also a medium for moral and social education. Issues like dowry system, women empowerment, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, and cleanliness are often taken up through the performances. Today many organizations around the country are making use of this art form to spread effective information on health, education and human rights. A vital part of the cultural heritage of Rajasthan, the art form of Kathputali reflects the traditions, beliefs and lifestyle of the local people.

A Treasured Memorabilia

The Rajasthan Kathputlis are famous throughout the world and make for popular souvenirs for tourists. Available in a variety of forms like portraits of famous rulers- Shivaji Maharaj, Maharaja Jai Singh, and Maharana Pratap, or as door hangings with animal figures- camel, elephant, and horse or even in the form of toys; the Kathputali is treasured memorabilia that will always remind you of India’s rich cultural heritage.