Puppet Storytelling Workshops for Children
Bring the wisdom of Indian epics to life for your child. Our workshops at Dhaatu use the traditional art of puppetry to make the Ramayana and Mahabharata engaging, meaningful, and deeply personal.
It is a joy to see the wonder in children's eyes as they create their very own puppets. Here I am with a group of young participants from a recent workshop, proudly holding the Rama and Krishna finger puppets they made themselves at our Mandala Cultural Centre.
Our Epic Series workshops are designed to immerse children aged 9 to 14 in the world of the Mahabharata. This poster outlines the week-long program which includes storytelling, shloka chanting, colouring activities, and culminates in a stage show where children perform with puppets.
This is the string puppet of Ashtavakra, a wise sage from the Mahabharata whose story holds deep philosophical meaning. Creating puppets of such characters allows us to explore complex narratives and their relevance even today, as we did for an International Genetic conference.
A close-up of the sage Kanva, a character from Kalidasa's classic play 'Abhijnaana Shaakuntalam'. We use these puppets to perform and teach timeless stories, preserving the rich literary heritage of India through the art of puppetry.
About Storytelling for Children: The Epic Series
These workshops are not merely about sitting and listening to tales. Every session demands active participation, from learning Sanskrit shlokas to crafting movements for the final stage show. Children spend seven days immersed in the narrative, understanding character motivations through our handmade puppets, culminating in a performance where they take center stage to share these ancient stories themselves.
A Journey Into Our Epics
In an age dominated by digital screens, our workshops at the Mandala Cultural Centre offer a tactile, human connection to our heritage. We choose to narrate the Ramayana and Mahabharata because these texts are the foundation of our moral and aesthetic education.
The Seven-Day Intensive
Our Epic Series is a structured engagement for children aged 7 to 14. We begin with deep-dive storytelling, where we dissect the narrative arcs and the choices characters face. This is followed by the rote learning of key Sanskrit shlokas, helping children grasp the beauty of pronunciation and meter.
From Story to Stage
The afternoons are dedicated to the craft of performance. Whether it is dance-drama or basic puppetry, children learn how to manipulate their puppets to convey emotion. By the seventh day, the nervousness of the first morning transforms into the confidence of a performer. Parents are invited to witness this transformation at our final stage show, where the children bring these legends to life before an audience.
Why Puppetry Matters
Puppetry is a unique medium. It creates a gentle distance between the child and the character, allowing them to engage with complex emotions without feeling overwhelmed. It is our kartavya nishta, or sacred duty, to pass this tradition to the next generation. Through these workshops, children do not just learn about the epics; they live them.
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