Traditional Kathputli Puppet Making Workshops
From raw wood blocks to dancing marionettes, we teach you the ancient craft of Kathputli. Learn the art of carving, papier-mâché, and stringing in our authentic Delhi workshops.
The first day of our intensive workshop. Students gather to learn the history and basics of traditional puppetry before we begin the hands-on work.
On the second day, we start carving. I guide a student as she shapes the raw wood, teaching her the traditional techniques my father taught me.
Concentration is key. A student works carefully on her puppet, with wood shavings all around. This is the real, messy, beautiful process of creating something by hand.
After carving, we use papier-mâché, or what I call 'paper messy', to create a smooth and strong face. This bright pink head is now ready for the next step.
Here you can see the puppet's head and body taking shape with papier-mâché and cloth. Each piece is made separately before being joined together.
Days four and five are for refining the details. Students continue with carving and applying layers of papier-mâché, ensuring the puppet is strong and perfectly formed.
I believe in teaching by sitting with my students. Here, I am working alongside them, guiding their hands as they learn the delicate process of carving and shaping.
This is a very special moment on Day 11. We give the puppet a 'New Life' by attaching the 'New String'. This is when the puppet is truly born and ready to dance.
The workshop ends with a celebration. After days of hard work carving, painting, and stringing, my students from Germany finally bring their puppets to life with a small performance.
So much happiness on World Puppet Day. My students and I sit together after completing the workshop, proud of the beautiful traditional puppets we created together.
About The Traditional Puppet Making Journey
This is not about surface-level painting. Whether you join our one-day session or the 7-day intensive, we work together on the floor using real chisels and tools. You will carve the head from mango wood, mold the face using our traditional 'paper messy' papier-mâché technique, and eventually, string it up to give it life.
The Process of Creation
When you sit with us in our community space, you aren't just making a toy. You are following the same steps that my dada-pardada followed.
- Wood Carving: We start with raw mango or tun wood. You learn how to use a chisel to reveal the face within the block. It requires patience and a steady hand.
- The 'Paper Messy' Technique: We use a mixture of newspaper and fenugreek paste to sculpt facial features. It is a messy, tactile, and rewarding way to build volume.
- Costuming & Stringing: Once the structure is ready, we dress the puppet in vintage Rajasthani fabric scraps, brocades, and gota patti work. Finally, we attach the strings to the 'Bol' (wooden control stick) to ensure the puppet can walk, salute, and dance.
Why This Matters
People call this a dying art, but I disagree. It is a living parampara (tradition). In the 7-day masterclass, we even include a small 'Prana Pratishtha' (life-giving) ceremony to respect the materials and the spirit of the puppet. We teach you not just how to build it, but how to handle it so it feels alive in your hands. You don't need prior experience, just a willingness to sit on the floor, get your hands dirty, and learn a piece of Indian culture that has traveled from our homes to stages in Brazil, Spain, and beyond.
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