At a glance
- Dhaga-putli: the string-puppet style is considered Rajasthan's gift.
- Udaipur: the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is there (CET Graduation 2022).
- Amar Singh Rathore: the most popular kathputli story.
Facts
| Performers | The Bhat community, a nomadic group also called Nats, who say their ancestors performed for royal families |
|---|---|
| Age | Believed to be more than a thousand years old |
| Music | Women sing along with the dialogue, to the dholak |
The puppets
- Each puppet is carved from a single piece of wood. Incredible India names mango wood; RPSC's answer key (Protection Officer 2024) gives aadu (peach).
- About 30 cm tall, with long, stylised eyes and faces usually painted yellow. Most have no legs; long skirts hide this.
- The puppeteer works the hands, neck and shoulders with strings wound round his fingers.
The shows
- A colourful curtain with three arches, the tibara, hides the puppeteers.
- Other stories: Prithviraj-Sanyogita and Sinhasan Battisi.
- Shows also take up dowry, illiteracy, poverty and other social issues.
Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal
- Founded in 1952 by Devilal Samar; its puppet unit trains children, teachers and other artistes.
- Its puppeteers won the world's first prize in 1965, at the third international puppet festival in Romania.
Remember: often mixed up
- Puppets or scrollsthe Bhats and their kathputli · the Bhopas and their phad, a painted scroll recited to the ravanhatha or jantar.
Test yourself: asked in exams
Protection Officer 2024 · Q8
Which wood is basically used in making puppets?
- (1)Mango
- (2)Java plum
- (3)Peach
- (4)Acacia
Show answer
✓ (3) Peach
See the full paperCET Graduation Level 2022 · Q13
Where is the ‘Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal Institute’ located?
- (1)Udaipur
- (2)Jodhpur
- (3)Tonk
- (4)Jaipur
Show answer
✓ (1) Udaipur
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