--- title: "Dhaatu Puppet Festivals & Cultural Conferences in Bengaluru" description: "Experience traditional Indian puppetry at Dhaatu events in Bengaluru. Join our annual puppet festivals, academic conferences, and community gatherings to celebrate our cultural heritage." canonical: https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/festivals-conferences-community last_updated: 2025-09-07 --- # Dhaatu Puppet Festivals, Conferences & Cultural Gatherings Tribe Verified · 27 years of celebrating puppet festivals By [Dhaatu Puppet Theater](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater) · Workshops at theaters in Banashankari & Talaghattapura, Bengaluru · ₹400 per participant (estimate) Part of [Puppetry & Craft Workshops](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/gallery) We bring people together to celebrate the ancient art of puppetry. From academic conferences to joyous mahotsavas, our events are where culture meets community in Bengaluru. ## Photos and videos - ![The complete schedule for our Dhaatu Navaratra Mahotsava. This annual festival is a 27-year tradition, featuring doll displays, storytelling, classical dance, and of course, our signature puppet shows.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b3f886d1-e923-430e-997e-fa8e30c38b40) - ![Announcing the Dhaatu Puppet Santhe, a one-day puppet festival. We invite everyone to join us for a day of puppet shows, museum tours, artist interactions, and workshops at the Mandala Cultural Centre.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/cd8f695c-ee15-4a35-b189-41ce6ca83f5c) - ![Our Dhaatu International Puppet Festival includes a conference on "Puppet Traditions & Innovations". This event brings together speakers from across India and the world to discuss the past, present, and future of puppetry.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c43c8f8c-278e-4666-8e93-9dab6f6b2aa3) - ![We were honored to host a rod puppet making workshop with renowned master puppeteer Dr. Subho Joardar from Kolkata. This is part of our effort to bring diverse puppetry traditions to our community.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bb7a8d21-da29-4524-985e-8c829e26cb15) - ![We were pleased to welcome students from Creighton University, USA, and St. Joseph's College, Bengaluru, to our puppet museum. These immersion programs are a wonderful way to share our cultural heritage with the next generation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/60b9a450-3722-4676-b203-7fa9c1d1e9da) - ![Students from our India immersion program enjoy an interactive performance at our puppet theater. These sessions often include a mix of performance and explanation, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the art form.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a29e303d-5f0b-44ed-927b-a806a7a3f9d6) - ![A newspaper article highlighting our puppet fete. Media coverage helps us reach a wider audience and share the richness of India's puppetry traditions with more people.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f610444e-d99d-4e8a-bd06-e7a87f900a58) - ![An international artist speaks at our conference on puppet traditions. We believe in creating a global dialogue, and our festivals feature puppeteers and scholars from around the world, like this speaker from Austria.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/46125f78-3352-4677-b693-d12b7fa355b6) - ![A speaker presents at our conference on "Puppet Traditions & Innovations". These academic sessions are crucial for documenting and discussing the evolution of puppetry as a visual theater form.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/508f4921-41aa-45bd-a165-fcd783428be6) - ![A puppeteer demonstrates the use of a hand puppet during a conference session. These practical demonstrations help bridge the gap between academic discussion and the living practice of the art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6de29df7-3355-4feb-8c56-06f869253b44) - ![The audience at our Dhaatu International Puppet Festival conference. Our events attract a diverse crowd of artists, students, and cultural enthusiasts, all eager to learn more about puppetry.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b0b96c1b-559f-432f-964d-82becb1a6431) - ![Our founder, Anupama Hoskere, speaks at the conference on her "Approach to Emotions in Puppetry". She shares insights from her decades of experience in conveying complex human emotions through inanimate objects.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f2e6054c-84b8-49b6-9684-158f2d977637) - ![The detailed schedule for our conference, listing the speakers and their topics. We cover a wide range of subjects, from the movement in rod puppetry to innovations in traditional forms like Tholpavakuthu.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/cd427588-28a1-4c90-902a-0c8c3ebdd744) - ![The schedule for our "Puppets & Materials" seminar. This session delves into the technical aspects of the craft, discussing materials used in Karnataka, West Bengal, and even Austria, as well as modern innovations like 3D printing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dbe64704-6298-4862-b77f-8bf399974327) - ![A presentation in progress for visiting university students at our puppet museum. We use visuals and interactive talks to explain the history and cultural significance of the puppets in our collection.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b57a2d2d-c7f1-49c4-9c0a-65726ada33b7) - ![An interactive session with students at our puppet theater. We encourage questions and participation, making the experience educational and memorable for our visitors.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d5394493-5ee8-475b-89e5-d5b58fe3e42c) - ![A young member of our team addresses visiting students. We are passionate about passing on our knowledge and inspiring the next generation of artists and cultural custodians.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f6242bbf-5494-4766-ba0d-50e7ae7a138f) ## About Festivals, Conferences & Community When you join us at the Mandala Cultural Centre, you do not just watch a performance. You step into a shared space where students, artists, and families sit together on mats, creating a community that connects directly with the puppeteers and the stories being told. Our festivals are a bridge between the past and the present. For over 27 years, we have hosted the Dhaatu Navaratra Mahotsava, an annual celebration that transforms our space into a vibrant hub of storytelling, classical dance, and puppet performances. These gatherings are not merely shows; they are an attempt to revive the community spirit that once surrounded traditional art forms in Bharat. At our Dhaatu International Puppet Festival, we go deeper. We host conferences featuring scholars and master puppeteers from around the world, ranging from Austria to Kerala. These sessions explore the technical and philosophical sides of the craft, such as the 'Puppets & Materials' seminars, where we discuss everything from traditional wooden carving to 3D printing in puppetry. Whether you are an academic looking to study the nuances of rod puppetry or a family seeking an afternoon of storytelling, these events are designed to be inclusive spaces for all. We invite you to be part of these ongoing dialogues and celebrations that keep our cultural heritage breathing and alive. ## About Dhaatu Puppet Theater We are a family-run team in Bengaluru, led by Anupama Hoskere, who see puppetry as a way to share the wisdom of our epics. Since 2004, we have been working to keep these stories alive, not just on stage, but by building a community that values art as much as we do. [See all of Dhaatu Puppet Theater's services](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater) ## More from Puppetry & Craft Workshops by Dhaatu Puppet Theater - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/featured) - [Our Puppet Shows: Stories on a String](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/our-puppet-shows-stories-on-a-string) - [Workshops for Children & Families](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/workshops-for-children-families) - [Mastering the Craft: The Pavakathakali Workshop](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/mastering-the-craft-the-pavakathakali-workshop) - [Our Founder's Journey & Accolades](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/our-founder-s-journey-accolades) - [Specialized Cultural Workshops](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppetry-craft-workshops/specialized-cultural-workshops) ## More services by Dhaatu Puppet Theater - [Puppet Shows & Performances](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/puppet-shows-performances) - [Cultural Festivals & Exhibitions](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/cultural-festivals-exhibitions) - [Museum Tours & Educational Programs](https://mytribe.in/dhaatupuppettheater/museum-tours-educational-programs) ## Similar work from other experts - [Cultural Festivals and Puppet Shows in Bengaluru](https://mytribe.in/anupamahoskere/puppetry-performances-cultural-shows/our-cultural-festivals-community-events) by Dhaatu · Puppetry Performances & Cultural Shows · Shows at Mandala Cultural Centre; Travels across Bengaluru and India - [PuppeTree on the World Stage](https://mytribe.in/puppetreetheatre/puppetry-workshops-classes/puppetree-on-the-world-stage) by PuppeTree · Puppetry Workshops & Classes · Workshops at your venue across Bengaluru - [Classical Dance Festivals and Community Events in Bangalore](https://mytribe.in/parshwanath_upadhye/bharatanatyam-dance-training-workshops/dance-festivals-community-events) by Parshwanath Upadhye · Bharatanatyam Dance Training & Workshops · Classes at NRI Layout & Chikhale; Workshops across Bengaluru; Online sessions available - [Exploring Culture & Heritage in Bengaluru](https://mytribe.in/attagalatta/community-event-and-meetup-venue/exploring-culture-heritage) by Atta Galatta · Community Event and Meetup Venue · In-person at Atta Galatta, Indiranagar - [Our Featured Traditional Folk Art Performances](https://mytribe.in/kalaarohana.arts_official/traditional-indian-performance-arts/featured) by Kalaarohana Arts · Traditional Indian Performance Arts · Performs at events across Karnataka; Visit studio in Banashankari, Bengaluru - [Art Festivals: Celebrating Local Creativity and Community Talent](https://mytribe.in/sapnasparkz/family-entertainment-events/celebrating-community-our-art-festivals) by Sapna Sparkz · Family Entertainment & Events · Events at Sapna Book House in Koramangala & Rajarajeshwari Nagar ## Book To book Dhaatu Puppet Theater, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I%20am%20interested%20in%20attending%20your%20upcoming%20puppet%20festivals%20and%20events.%20Could%20you%20tell%20me%20more%20about%20the%20schedule%20and%20registration%3F)