---
title: "Kathputli Puppet Shows by Aakaar Puppet Theatre for Rajasthani Culture Events - mytribe"
description: "Book Kathputli Puppet Shows, puppetry workshops, and custom puppet design with Aakaar Puppet Theatre. Celebrate Rajasthani culture and storytelling at your event—perfect for all ages. Enquire today!"
canonical: https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet
last_updated: 2024-12-19
---

# Aakaar Puppet Theatre

As traditional puppeteers, we are dedicated to keeping our heritage alive. We perform classic Kathputli shows and teach the craft of puppet-making for all ages.

## Services

### [Custom Puppet Design & Fabrication](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication)

Ships custom puppets across India

Typically ₹500-30K per puppet (estimate)

- ![This is Anarkali, a traditional Rajasthani string puppet, captured during a performance. Her face is hand-painted on wood, and her costume is stitched with great care to allow for graceful dance movements, bringing the character to life under the stage lights.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7fa1208c-3454-43a8-aba5-0c885b1b3bc7)
- ![Here you can see some of our giant parade puppets on stage with our full troupe. We create these large-than-life characters, like the sun puppet and the Rajasthani man, from lightweight foam so they are easy to carry during festivals and events.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/89c8bfb1-c4a7-477f-b40f-1cf44d05d062)
- [Video: This video shows the very first step of making a giant mask puppet for a dance company. I am carving the main shape from a large block of foam, working from a concept sketch to create a custom, large-scale character piece.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9f0907eb-b994-4705-b65c-4c00d8e65017)
- ![Teaching is a very important part of my work. Here, I am guiding a student during a wood carving workshop, showing her how to shape the puppet's head using traditional tools and techniques passed down through generations.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/287615c5-02cd-47c2-9fbe-e9d9a086c11f)
- ![This is a character from one of our traditional puppet plays. The dramatic expression is hand-painted to be visible from afar, and the unique stringing allows for complex movements like bowing, which is essential for storytelling.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a3af8c2a-b855-4f05-96ed-fb58ab81530b)
- [Video: People sometimes say our art is dying, but I believe art never dies. In this video from a conference with the ICCR, I am sharing my belief that this tradition will live on for generations to see and enjoy.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0a372157-6db9-4e40-bceb-01229604e6c7)
- ![This is me in my element, surrounded by the characters I have given life to. Each puppet, big or small, is a part of my family and carries a piece of our heritage.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1d359418-918a-4014-b48a-96fbb13dbd5a)

### [Puppetry Workshops & Training](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/puppetry-workshops-training)

Conducts workshops across India

Typically ₹800-2,500 per participant per day (estimate)

- ![It all begins with the hands. For generations, my family has learned to tell stories through these strings. This is the art of manipulation, where every small movement gives life to the puppet.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/af31783a-950d-473f-b808-411a59e6fe60)
- [Video: The first step is always with the wood. Here, a student learns to carve, feeling the shape of the puppet come to life. This is a hands-on traditional woodcarving lesson, where patience is the most important tool.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/823e7527-d5da-4c15-a7dc-481368462872)
- [Video: With a steady hand, a student carefully paints the face, giving the puppet its character and soul. This is a moment of quiet focus in my painting workshop, where every brushstroke matters.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2faf683e-065b-4ff2-9e70-56cdd4ccebe6)
- ![There is no greater joy than seeing a student with the puppet they made themselves. Here, I am helping a young artist at a school workshop in Ayodhya put the final touches on her new friend.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/576d8fc8-5030-45cc-9c93-547b7a260eaf)
- [Video: Once the puppet is made, the real training begins. I personally guide each student, showing them the secret techniques to make their kathputli walk, gesture, and express emotion through string manipulation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/656fffd3-da11-4f96-9dd3-1a8449a75342)
- [Video: In our tradition, we believe every puppet has a spirit. We perform a small pooja, asking for blessings from Bhawani Mata before we give the puppet its final form. This is a sacred step in our puppet making process.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2ea88547-152b-42cb-a0fa-03b566ba6bbc)
- ![This is Anarkali, one of my traditional string puppets, performing on stage. See how the light catches her dress and the fine details on her face. This is the beauty you can create and bring to life.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7fa1208c-3454-43a8-aba5-0c885b1b3bc7)
- ![Taking our Indian culture across the world is my biggest honor. Here I am with my family of puppets after a show at a puppet festival in Barcelona, Spain.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1d359418-918a-4014-b48a-96fbb13dbd5a)

### [Rajasthani Puppet Shows (Kathputli)](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli)

Performs puppet shows across India

Typically ₹15-50K per show (estimate)

- ![It all begins here, with our hands and the strings. This is the connection that gives life to the wood and cloth, turning a puppet into a character with a soul. This is the heart of traditional Rajasthani string puppetry.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/af31783a-950d-473f-b808-411a59e6fe60)
- ![A moment of pure energy on stage. Here, I am performing with a dancing puppet, lost in the story and the music. We bring this passion to every show, making the kathputli dance, fight, and fly.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a43a57e1-f195-4b8a-986e-3cc5d2dcbe4c)
- ![Our full troupe with our giant puppets after a festival performance. We can create a grand spectacle for large events, filling the stage with colour, music, and characters of all sizes, from small dancers to towering kings.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/89c8bfb1-c4a7-477f-b40f-1cf44d05d062)
- ![This was the poster for our performance at the International Puppet Festival in Barcelona, Spain. Taking our Rajasthani folk art to the world is a great honour. It shows that stories told with heart have no language barrier.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/14195c77-b2d2-46d3-840d-7003fc34b83e)
- ![A workshop with children from the French school in Bangladesh. It is a special feeling to see their curious faces as they watch the puppets. We don't just perform, we share our tradition so the next generation can love it too.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/5bc4c7d8-a291-47ac-a5a7-7b887a4cd388)
- [Video: This is how a puppet is born. A student learns to carve the wood, the first step in a long process. We teach this craft to people from all over the world, passing on the skills of puppet making that have been in our family for generations.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/74648303-8ab2-4d49-8996-4a4979131758)
- ![An event poster from a show we did for students, presented by SPIC MACAY. It mentions my Sangeet Natak Academy Award, an honour that I hold with great humility. It is a recognition of our lifelong dedication to this art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/60da8e88-e1a9-481f-bdb1-b5913f7b7c4b)

## Meet your expert

### My story

Namaste, we are Aakaar Puppet Theatre from the Katputli colony in Delhi. Some folks call Kathputli a 'dying art', but hum kehte hain (we say), art never dies - it lives in our hearts, from dadaji (grandfather) to bachche (kids). We've taken our string puppets everywhere - Spain, Brazil, Bangladesh, and taught kids from France, Germany too. Wherever we perform, chhote-bade sab sarahate hain (young and old all applaud). This is our tradition, our culture. Shukriya.

### My work

- **Puppetry for All Occasions**: We perform traditional Kathputli puppet shows, host puppet making workshops, and do live demonstrations for festivals, schools, and events.
- **Traditional Shows**: Classic tales like Amar Singh Rathore and Dhola Maru, with live Rajasthani storytelling and music. Audiences of all ages enjoy.
- **Workshops**: We teach puppet making from scratch - wood carving, papier-mâché, clothes, and how to bring puppets to life with strings.
- **Big and Small Puppets**: We create giant puppets, mask puppets for big shows and collaborations. Always open to new ideas and projects.