--- title: "Traditional Kathputli Puppet Making and Craftsmanship" description: "Learn the authentic art of Rajasthani puppet making in Delhi. Join Puran Bhat to discover the traditional techniques of hand-carving and string manipulation." canonical: https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/the-making-of-a-puppet last_updated: 2025-09-22 --- # Traditional Kathputli Puppet Making and Craftsmanship Tribe Verified · Sangeet Natak Academy Award-winning heritage. By [Aakaar Puppet Theatre](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet) · Performs puppet shows across India · ₹12K Per Show (60 Mins) (estimate) Part of [Rajasthani Puppet Shows (Kathputli)](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/gallery) Discover the parampara of Rajasthani puppetry. Learn how we hand-carve, paint, and bring our puppets to life in our Delhi studio. ## Photos and videos - [Video: This video celebrates World Puppet Day by showing the entire process. You can see students carving, painting, and me testing the finished puppet. This is how we keep the art alive.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/906d651a-455a-42fb-a6c7-b746f5594b78) ## About The Making of a Puppet You will start with a raw block of wood and learn to carve the structure, hand-stitch traditional Rajasthani attire, and master the delicate art of string manipulation. We avoid factory-made materials entirely, teaching you the exact slow, meditative process we use to prepare our puppets for the main stage. ### Keeping the Parampara Alive For me, a puppet is not a toy. It is a vessel for our stories, our *parampara* (tradition), and our history. When you join our workshop, you are stepping into a studio where the chisel hits the wood the same way it did for my *dada-pardada* (grandparents). ### What You Will Learn We guide you through the complete lifecycle of a *Kathputli*: * **Carving:** Shaping the head and torso from traditional wood. * **Painting:** Applying the expressive, vibrant faces that define Rajasthani folk art. * **Costuming:** Stitching the *ghaghra-choli* and turbans using authentic folk fabrics. * **Manipulation:** Learning how to breathe life into the wood using the correct string tension. Whether you are a student or a parent wanting to connect your children with their culture, I want to show you that art never dies—it only needs a pair of hands to keep it moving. We provide all the materials, from the wood to the paint, and we take our time because this is not about speed; it is about preservation. We have hosted workshops for institutions ranging from local Delhi schools to IIT, and I am always happy to share this craft with anyone who respects the tradition. ## About Aakaar Puppet Theatre I am Puran Bhat. For me, making a puppet is an act of devotion—when I carve a face, I am breathing life into our culture. Whether you are a student or a curious parent, I invite you to my home to learn the *parampara* of puppetry. [See all of Aakaar Puppet Theatre's services](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet) ## More from Rajasthani Puppet Shows (Kathputli) by Aakaar Puppet Theatre - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/featured) - [Major Performances: Festivals & Cultural Centres](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/major-performances-festivals-cultural-centres) - [Sharing Our Art with Students](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/sharing-our-art-with-students) - [Taking Kathputli to the World](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/taking-kathputli-to-the-world) - [Our Voice for the Art](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/rajasthani-puppet-shows-kathputli/our-voice-for-the-art) ## More services by Aakaar Puppet Theatre - [Puppetry Workshops & Training](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/puppetry-workshops-training) - [Custom Puppet Design & Fabrication](https://mytribe.in/aakaar_puppet/custom-puppet-design-fabrication) ## 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 - [Behind the Curtains: Our Puppet Theater Creative Process](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppet-shows-performances/behind-the-curtains-our-creative-process) by Dhaatu Puppet Theater · Puppet Shows & Performances · Shows at theaters in Bengaluru; Travels across India for events - [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 - [The Craft Behind Our Puppet Theatre](https://mytribe.in/puppetreetheatre/puppet-show-performances/behind-the-curtain-the-making-of) by PuppeTree · Puppet Show Performances · Performs at your venue in Bengaluru and travels across 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 - [Master Traditional Indian Folk Art](https://mytribe.in/fineartsgurukul/art-workshops-for-adults/roots-of-culture-indian-folk-art) by Fine Arts Gurukul · Art Workshops for Adults · Workshops at Jayanagar, Cubbon Park & Online ## Book To book Aakaar Puppet Theatre, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Namaste%20Puran%20ji%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20puppet%20making%20work%20on%20mytribe.%20I%20would%20love%20to%20learn%20more%20about%20your%20workshops%20and%20how%20I%20can%20participate.)