Traditional Puppet Shows and Craft Workshops in Bengaluru
Experience the magic of Indian storytelling through our traditional puppet shows or learn the art of puppetry in our hands-on workshops at our Bengaluru cultural centers.
We believe puppetry is poetry in motion. This image captures a tender moment between a puppeteer and her creation during our "Poetry in Puppetry" show, showcasing the deep emotional connection that is at the heart of our storytelling.
This is where the magic begins. Our two-week Pavakathakali workshop takes you through the entire process of creating a traditional Kerala hand puppet, from meticulously carving the wood and painting delicate features to stitching the final costume.
Storytelling is central to our work. Here, our founder Anupama Hoskere captivates a young audience with tales from the Ramayana, using expressive narration to make ancient stories accessible and exciting for children.
A glimpse of our string puppets on stage. Each character is handcrafted with unique costumes and expressions, ready to enact scenes from timeless Indian stories. This showcases the vibrant theatricality of our traditional puppet shows.
Our "Parent & Me" workshop is designed for our youngest creators, ages 2 to 5. This poster highlights one of our most popular sessions where parents and toddlers can bond while making simple, charming finger puppets together.
We are deeply honored that our founder director, Smt. Anupama Hoskere, was conferred the Padma Shri award. This recognition fuels our commitment to preserving and sharing the art of puppetry.
We teach you how to create your own stage. This simple wooden puppet theater, with a hand-painted backdrop for a Panchatantram story, shows how you can bring the magic of puppetry into your own home after attending our workshops.
About this collection
At Dhaatu, we believe the best way to understand puppetry is to hold a puppet in your own hands. Whether you are watching a traditional Ramayana performance or joining our weekend 'karyagara' (workshop), you engage with a living tradition that spans generations. We provide the materials and the guidance, but the stories you tell with your puppet are yours.
Bringing Stories to Life
We view puppetry as more than entertainment; it is a way to share the wisdom embedded in our epics. Our shows, ranging from the Ramayana to the Mahabharata, are performed in English, Hindi, and Samskritam, making these ancient narratives accessible to modern audiences. We handle the technical side—the stage, the lighting, the movement—so that you can simply focus on the storytelling.
Hands-on Learning for Everyone
Our workshops are designed for different skill levels, ensuring that everyone from toddlers to master craftsmen finds something engaging:
- Parent & Me: Simple, 2-hour sessions where young children (ages 2-5) create their first finger puppets.
- Children's Workshops: Focused on hand and shadow puppets, these sessions teach the basics of puppet manipulation and voice modulation.
- Advanced Masterclasses: For serious hobbyists, our intensive sessions dive deep into wooden doll decoration and traditional rod puppet making, guided by experienced artists.
Visit Our Spaces
We operate out of two key locations in Bengaluru: the Dhaatu Puppet Theater in Banashankari and the Mandala Cultural Centre on Kanakapura Road. These are not just performance venues; they are open spaces where you can explore our museum, attend our Puppet Santhe, or spend an afternoon learning how to construct your own stage and characters. We invite you to step away from the digital and return to the tactile, handmade tradition of Indian puppetry.
Dhaatu Puppet Theater
I am Anupama, and along with my family and team, I have been chasing the stories of Bharat through puppetry since 2004. We are an engineer-led family that swapped technical blueprints for puppet scripts, turning our shared passion into a space for art and culture right here in Bengaluru.
What are you looking to experience?
Explore our range of performances, educational programs, and cultural workshops in Bengaluru.
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