--- title: "Traditional Kathputli String Puppets | Handmade Rajasthani Art" description: "Get authentic, hand-carved Kathputli string puppets. Aakaar Puppet Theatre brings heritage Rajasthani art to life with detailed painting and traditional costumes." canonical: https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/traditional-string-puppets-kathputli last_updated: 2025-09-22 --- # Authentic Traditional Kathputli String Puppets Tribe Verified · Sangeet Natak Academy award-winning craft 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) 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. ## Photos and videos - ![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.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7fa1208c-3454-43a8-aba5-0c885b1b3bc7) - ![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.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a3af8c2a-b855-4f05-96ed-fb58ab81530b) - ![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.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/14195c77-b2d2-46d3-840d-7003fc34b83e) ## 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. ## About 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. [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) - [Puppet Making Workshops](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication/puppet-making-workshops) - [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 - [Handcrafted Indian Puppets and Traditional Artistry](https://mytribe.in/anupamahoskere/puppetry-performances-cultural-shows/the-soul-of-the-puppet-handcrafted-artistry) by Dhaatu · Puppetry Performances & Cultural Shows · Shows at Mandala Cultural Centre; Travels across Bengaluru and India - [Our Family Legacy in Indian Puppetry](https://mytribe.in/satyajitpadhye/puppetry-for-film-tv-advertising/a-family-legacy-in-puppetry) by Satyajit Padhye · Puppetry for Film, TV & Advertising · Studio in Chembur; Travels for shoots across India - [Indian Puppet Shows and Folklore Performances](https://mytribe.in/isharapuppet/puppet-festival-curation-management/stories-from-home-indian-productions) by Ishara Puppet Theatre · Puppet Festival Curation & Management · Events curated at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi - [Grand Epic Puppet Shows for Events](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppet-shows-performances/epic-tales-on-strings) by Dhaatu Puppet Theater · Puppet Shows & Performances · Shows at theaters in Bengaluru; Travels across India for events - [Handmade Puppets and Custom Puppet Shows](https://mytribe.in/puppetreetheatre/puppet-show-performances/meet-our-handmade-puppets) by PuppeTree · Puppet Show Performances · Performs at your venue in Bengaluru and travels across India - [Handcrafted Decorative Dolls & Festive Traditions](https://mytribe.in/varnam-craft-collective/handcrafted-home-decor-kitchenware/decorative-dolls-festive-traditions) by Varnam Craft Collective · Handcrafted Home Decor & Kitchenware · Stores in Bengaluru, Mysuru & Goa; Ships across India ## Book To book Aakaar Puppet Theatre, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Namaste%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20Kathputli%20puppets%20on%20mytribe%20and%20would%20like%20to%20know%20more%20about%20ordering%20a%20custom%20piece.%20Are%20you%20available%3F)