Hands-on Puppet Workshops for Children and Families
From simple finger puppets for toddlers to epic Mahabharata storytelling for older children, we turn heritage into a tactile experience. Join our sessions at Mandala Cultural Centre to discover the joy of crafting stories with your own hands.
We invite children aged 5 to 10 to join our hand puppet making workshop. This poster shows our founder with two traditional hand puppets, giving an idea of the characters kids can create and take home.
Explore the magic of light and shadow in our shadow puppet workshop for ages 5 and up. Participants learn to design, cut, and operate their own shadow puppets, a wonderful introduction to a different style of storytelling.
Learn the Ramayana in just seven days. Our immersive workshop for children aged 7 to 12 combines storytelling, shloka chanting, drama, and puppetry to teach the complete Valmiki Ramayana in an engaging way.
Part of our Epic Series, this Mahabharata workshop is for children aged 9 to 14. The program includes storytelling, workbook activities, and a puppet show to help young learners connect with this foundational Indian epic.
We love celebrating Children's Day with a special puppet show. This event is an opportunity for us to share the joy of puppetry with the community and create a memorable experience for the children.
We host a special Children's Puppet Festival exclusively for school groups. This poster announces our "Mooshikaa Katha" puppet show, followed by an interactive session for students.
Our Dhaatu Puppet Santhe is a day-long event filled with activities for everyone. This schedule board shows a full morning of puppet workshops, shows, and museum tours, welcoming all to come and make a puppet.
About this collection
We host our workshops on traditional mats in a semi-open cultural space. This is a no-frills, tactile environment where children sit, create, and learn at their own pace. Whether you choose a quick weekend session or a week-long deep dive, every participant walks away with a handmade puppet, bridging the gap between ancient storytelling and modern craft.
Learning Through Tradition
Our workshops at Dhaatu are designed to move beyond passive entertainment. We use the art of puppetry to introduce children to the complexity of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Instead of just hearing these stories, children build the characters, paint the costumes, and learn the movements, helping them retain the wisdom and narratives in a way that resonates.
Workshop Formats
- Weekend Sessions: Perfect for a quick introduction, these 1.5 to 3-hour classes focus on specific skills like finger puppet construction or basic shadow puppetry. These are ideal for families looking for a meaningful weekend activity in South Bengaluru.
- 7-Day Cultural Camps: For children aged 7 to 14, we offer a more immersive experience. Over 35 hours, students engage with shlokas, prop making, and character building, culminating in a final stage performance where they operate the puppets they created.
- Advanced Masterclasses: For older students and adults, our intensives on rod puppet making and traditional doll decoration offer a deeper technical dive into materials, iconography, and Natyashastra color theory.
What to Expect
Our environment is functional and authentic. We seat participants on floor mats to encourage interaction and focus. All materials—from chart paper and fabric scraps to control sticks and paints—are provided. Whether it is a Parent & Me session or a focused craft class, we prioritize the process of making over the perfection of the final product. Come prepared to sit, engage, and get a little paint on your hands.
Dhaatu Puppet Theater
I am Anupama, an engineer turned puppeteer. My family and I run Dhaatu because we believe these old stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are meant to be felt, not just read. We invite you to step into our space in Bengaluru and help us keep this tradition alive with your own hands.
Looking for a different activity?
You can browse our other workshops, museum tours, or festival events.
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