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  • Writer's pictureHarshChandra

Kathputlis of Rajasthan

Updated: Dec 23, 2018

Earth is a stage for God to perform.


Earth is a stage for God to perform,; Source:- Harsh Chandra

Origin:

The origination of kathputlis is from the Bhat community of Naguar area of Marwar region in Rajasthan. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


About:

Puppets or string manikins in Rajasthan are known as kathputlis (Kath-wood, putli doll, figure). The manikins are performed by strings from the highest point of the manikin by the puppeteers. Abrasive voices are delivered by the lead puppeteer who is talked through a bamboo reed. Puppeteers used to head out starting with one town then onto the next and perform stories with the assistance of lead manikins on with the beats of Dholak and neighbourhood society melodies. These shows are normally performed amid the late night. (gaatha_home, 2010)



Proof of Origin:

Puppetry is an extremely old work of art, considered 30,000 years back. Manikins have been utilized to vitalize and impart the thoughts and necessities of human social orders. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


History Origin in India:

Puppetry is an extremely old work of art, considered 30,000 years back. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016) Manikins have been utilized since the soonest times to vitalize and impart the thoughts and necessities of human social orders. (gaatha_home, 2010)

The Indian tradition of puppetry is based on the concept that earth is a stage for the gods to perform. The story of Krishna’s childhood mentions that with these strings, he manipulates each object in the universe. (Padhaaro, 2014)

Manikins are known by an assortment of names in the nation. In Hindi, it is called Putin or Pustule, while in Sanskrit; it is called panchalika or puttikaa and also putulika. Crosswide over India, the dolls are initiated putlin, bomlatta, gombeyata, bhaulia, bomba and so on. The word manikin follows its underlying foundations from the Latin expression pupa or pupila, which implies a young lady or a doll. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


Evolution, Adaptation and Cultural values:

It is said that puppetry of Rajasthan is in excess of a thousand years of age yet there is no composed proof of it. These individuals guarantee that their progenitors had performed for imperial families and got amazing privilege and glory from the leaders of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. In the antiquated time, individuals used to trust that manikin demonstrations are a helpful medium to dispose of abhorrent spirits. Additionally they expected that these shows will get the rains and also bring success to the lives of the villagers. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


Globalisation, Standardization and Marketing:

No festival, fair or social gathering in Rajasthan is complete without puppet shows. Some famous fairs and festivals of Rajasthan are Pushkar Fair, Desert Fair or summer festival or Teej Festival etc. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)

The legislature has opened numerous puppetry theatres’ in the state and furthermore it composes manikin which appears on the standard premise in the field of the state. Indeed, even a few sumptuous legacy lodgings of Rajasthan likewise compose some tremendous puppetry, appears in their premises to give a cut of Rajasthani old stories to its visitors. (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


Materials and Semantics:

Mostly, the puppets are made in pieces. The face, body, arms and legs are made out of wood as separate wooden blocks. They are fixed loosely so that sufficient movement can be given to each part. Strings are tied on every piece. The strings are looped into the puppeteer's hands and fingers. The puppet lies inert on the stage until they come to life when the strings are pulled. These puppet dresses are made from old printed fabrics and hands are made simply by stuffing rags or cotton into the sleeves of the dresses. (Padhaaro, 2014) (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


Uniqueness:

Every string is appended to the puppeteers' fingers straightforwardly, which calls for a lot of virtuosity. These manikins are worked with strings. (gaatha_home, 2010) (AGRAHAYANA 9, 2016)


Views:

Puppets and puppetry is a very creative form of expression of ideas, experiences and stories. Its form could be modernised and used in present theatre expression for new generation. Adaptation of art and creative implementation in teaching young kids and making kids express their inner inspiration could be one approach for its future use because kids are more expressive while enacting. This is a form of art which is popular widely throughout the world. Every culture or communities in different countries have their own version of puppets and puppetry, basic ideology being the same. Expression of positive energy, greetings, culture and history is the basic thought amongst all. Adaptation in India is very early and progressively it is Indianised very fast. Today Indian puppetry is popular worldwide.


 

References


  1. AGRAHAYANA 9, S. (2016, 11 30). GOVERNMENT OF INDIA GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS JOURNAL NO.93. Retrieved from http://www.ipindia.nic.in: http://www.ipindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/IPOJournal/1_416_1/Journal_93.pdf

  2. gaatha_home. (2010, 1 18). The Story of Kathputli. Retrieved from http://gaatha.com: http://gaatha.com/the-story-of-kathputli/

  3. Padhaaro, T. (2014, 3 24). Padhaaro Blog. Retrieved from http://www.padhaaro.com: http://www.padhaaro.com/blog/kathputlis-rajasthan-puppetry/


 

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