Authentic Traditional Kathputli String Puppets
We bring stories to life with hand-carved Rajasthani puppets. Each piece is crafted in our Delhi studio, using traditional wood, vibrant fabrics, and the same techniques passed down through generations.
A close-up of a female dancer puppet, a classic character in Kathputli performances. The details in her sequined dress and the delicate painting of her face are all done by hand to capture the traditional Rajasthani style.
This puppet character, with his intense expression and unique form, is designed for a specific role in a traditional play. The strings are attached to key points to allow the puppeteer to create a range of expressive movements, from crawling to fighting.
This is a poster from when we took our traditional art to Spain. It was an honor to perform our show 'Amar Singh Rathor' at the 17th International Puppet Festival in Barcelona, showing that our stories have a place on the world stage.
About Traditional String Puppets (Kathputli)
Every puppet we build starts with seasoned mango wood. We hand-carve the face, paint the expressive eyes using traditional oil-based techniques, and stitch every piece of the Gota patti costume ourselves. It is a slow, manual process that gives each puppet its own weight, movement, and soul, ensuring it is ready for real performance rather than just display.
Our Process: From Wood to Life
When we make a puppet, we don't just put together wood and fabric. We follow the traditional Kathputli craft. We start by selecting the right mango or medicinal wood to ensure the head is lightweight but durable. The face is then hand-painted with signature large eyes that hold the character's expression.
The Details That Matter
- Costumes: We use brocade, velvet, or upcycled sarees with Gota patti work, staying true to the Rajasthani style.
- Mechanics: Each puppet uses high-tensile cotton strings attached to a bamboo finger-loop system. This allows for fluid, expressive movements, whether the character is dancing, fighting, or telling a story.
- Nayi Zindagi: We believe in the ritual of giving our puppets 'new life'. Every new head we carve receives a blessing before it is fully assembled.
Why Our Puppets Are Different
People often ask if our art is dying. We say no. Art kabhi marta nahi hai (Art never dies, people do). Because we are a theatre group, our puppets are built to be performed. They are balanced for stage work, meaning they handle differently than mass-produced souvenir puppets. If you are looking to start your own performance or add a piece of history to your collection, we build puppets that are meant to be handled, moved, and seen.
Aakaar Puppet Theatre
We are Aakaar Puppet Theatre from Delhi’s Kathputli Colony. Puran Bhat has spent his life keeping this tradition alive, taking our puppets from the streets of India to stages in Spain and Brazil. When you get a puppet from us, you get a piece of our heritage, built with the same care we give our own performers.
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