--- title: "Puppet Making Workshop in Delhi | Learn Traditional Kathputli Craft" description: "Join a hands-on puppet making workshop in Delhi. Learn traditional Kathputli wood carving, painting, and stringing with award-winning artist Puran Bhat." canonical: https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/puppet-making-workshops last_updated: 2025-09-22 --- # Hands-on Puppet Making Workshops in Delhi Tribe Verified · Award-winning workshops from Delhi's Kathputli colony By [Aakaar Puppet Theatre](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet) · Ships custom puppets across India · ₹3,500 Per Puppet (estimate) Part of [Custom Puppet Design & Fabrication](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/gallery) Learn the ancient craft of Kathputli puppetry. I will guide you through every step, from wood carving to final stringing, to bring your own puppet to life. ## Photos and videos - ![A student learns the first and most crucial step: wood carving. I teach the proper way to hold the tools and slowly shape a block of wood into a puppet head, a skill that is the foundation of our craft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/287615c5-02cd-47c2-9fbe-e9d9a086c11f) - [Video: This video shows students deeply focused during a wood carving session. Everyone works at their own pace, feeling the wood and bringing their own character to life from a simple block.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/823e7527-d5da-4c15-a7dc-481368462872) - [Video: Here, we are working with papier-mâché, an alternative to wood. This video shows the 'paper messy' stage of the workshop, where we build up layers to create a strong and lightweight puppet head.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/22ebacf2-73d8-4e26-981c-6fb2687b44ce) - ![This is a puppet head after the papier-mâché has been applied and dried, ready for the next stage. You can see the basic facial features have been formed, creating a blank canvas for painting.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9e49383f-bd8a-4ec0-8ec3-aa2d223a9609) - ![A close-up of a finished papier-mâché head. The texture is rough and full of character before any paint is even applied. This method allows for a lot of creativity in the final look.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d2ed7348-bddf-44d7-9ce8-d1aa28cecf1b) - [Video: Day 9 of our workshop is for painting. A student carefully adds color and detail to the puppet's face, which is the moment the character truly starts to show its personality. We also begin making the small clothes.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2faf683e-065b-4ff2-9e70-56cdd4ccebe6) - [Video: The final step is giving the puppet life with new strings. In this video, we are attaching the strings and I am performing a small blessing, a tradition we call 'Nayi Zindagi, Nayi Dor' which means 'New Life, New String'.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/91b1a204-2fc1-446a-a7e4-659a9c508961) - [Video: This video shows different moments from our carving and papier-mâché workshop with students from Germany. It shows the focus and dedication required as they learn to work with their hands to create art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3446cdbc-51be-44a4-af83-e680da7f74c3) - [Video: This video montage shows the entire journey of a workshop, from students carving and painting to me blessing the finished puppet. It ends with a happy group photo, celebrating the new puppets they have created together.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/74648303-8ab2-4d49-8996-4a4979131758) - [Video: A video celebrating World Puppet Day, showing the joy of making and sharing this art form. You can see students learning, me performing with a finished puppet, and the community that this craft builds.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/906d651a-455a-42fb-a6c7-b746f5594b78) ## About Puppet Making Workshops This is not just a craft session. We follow the traditional path, starting with raw mango wood or papier-mâché. You will learn to carve the facial features, stitch the costumes, and finally, attach the strings in a ceremony we call 'Nayi Zindagi, Nayi Dor'—which means giving new life to your creation. People often tell me that puppetry is a dying art. My answer is always the same: Art kabhi marta nahi hai (Art never dies), the people who practice it might just stop listening. I invite you to my home in the Kathputli colony to learn the craft, not just as a hobby, but as a living tradition. ### What You Will Learn In these workshops, I strip away the shortcuts. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an artist looking for a new medium, we start from scratch. * **Wood Carving:** We work with mango or medicinal wood. You will learn how to hold the chisel, read the grain of the wood, and carve a character out of a block. It takes patience and focus. * **Papier-mâché:** For those who prefer a different texture, we use paper pulp to build lightweight, durable heads that can be painted with high-contrast expressions. * **Costume & Assembly:** Every puppet needs a personality. We stitch traditional Rajasthani attire using bright fabrics, gota patti work, and velvet. * **Stringing:** This is the most crucial part. We attach high-tensile cotton strings to a bamboo loop system. This is where I perform the blessing, 'Nayi Zindagi, Nayi Dor', marking the moment the object becomes a performer. ### Why Join? I have taught students from all over—Delhi, France, Germany—and the joy of making a puppet is universal. You walk away with your own handmade puppet and the knowledge of the techniques we have used for generations. We don't just teach the mechanics; we teach the storytelling. Come with curiosity, and be ready to get your hands messy. It is a slow, meditative process, and that is exactly how it should be. ## About Aakaar Puppet Theatre I am Puran Bhat, and I believe art never dies if we keep it in our hands. My home in Delhi’s Kathputli colony is where I teach the old ways—not just how to make a puppet, but how to respect the wood and cloth that form it. [See all of Aakaar Puppet Theatre's services](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet) ## More from Custom Puppet Design & Fabrication by Aakaar Puppet Theatre - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/featured) - [Giant Puppets for Festivals & Events](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/giant-puppets-for-festivals-events) - [Traditional String Puppets (Kathputli)](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/traditional-string-puppets-kathputli) - [Our Mission & Journey](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/our-mission-journey) ## More services by Aakaar Puppet Theatre - [Puppetry Workshops & Training](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/puppetry-workshops-training) - [Rajasthani Puppet Shows (Kathputli)](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli) ## Similar work from other experts - [Master the Art of Indian Puppetry: Hands-on Workshops](https://mytribe.in/anupamahoskere/puppetry-cultural-arts-workshops/puppet-making-workshops-from-beginner-to-advanced) by Dhaatu · Puppetry & Cultural Arts Workshops · Online sessions available; Workshops at Mandala Cultural Centre, Kanakapura Road - [Puppetry and Ventriloquism Workshops in Mumbai](https://mytribe.in/satyajitpadhye/custom-puppet-design-and-creation/workshops-education) by Satyajit Padhye · Custom Puppet Design & Creation · Visit studio in Chembur; Ships across India - [Puppet Making Workshops and Cultural Conferences](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppet-shows-performances/workshops-conferences-learning) by Dhaatu Puppet Theater · Puppet Shows & Performances · Shows at theaters in Bengaluru; Travels across India for events - [Hands-On Craft & Puppet Making Classes for Kids](https://mytribe.in/kalarang_club/art-creativity-camps/hands-on-crafts-puppet-play) by Kalarang Club · Art & Creativity Camps · Online camps globally; Offline at studios in Mumbai & Noida - [Creative Crafting Workshops for Kids in Delhi](https://mytribe.in/skillfulminds/holiday-themed-workshops/creative-crafting-adventures) by Skillful Minds by Ruchi · Holiday & Themed Workshops · Workshops hosted at 4 centers in Punjabi Bagh, Kirti Nagar, Pitampura, and Paschim Vihar - [Papermache Sculpture Workshops in Noida](https://mytribe.in/advikartanddesign/creative-workshops-masterclasses/papermache-sculpture-fun) by Advik Art and Design · Creative Workshops & Masterclasses · Workshops at studio in Sector 37, Noida ## Book To book Aakaar Puppet Theatre, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Namaste%20Puran%20ji%2C%20I%20am%20interested%20in%20joining%20a%20puppet%20making%20workshop.%20Could%20you%20let%20me%20know%20about%20the%20upcoming%20dates%3F)