Kathputli is a string puppet theatre, native to Rajasthan, India, and is the most popular form of Indian puppetry.[1] Being a string marionette, it is controlled by a single string that passes it from the top of the puppet over the puppeteers. [2]
Rajasthani puppeteer
Putli meaning a doll. Kathputli means a puppet which is made entirely from wood. However it is made out of wood, cotton cloth and metal wire.
Some scholars believe Kathputli art tradition is more than thousands years old.[3] One finds its reference in Rajasthani folk tales, ballads and sometimes even in folk songs. Similar puppets which are rod-puppets, are also found in west Bengal. But it is truly rajasthan's amazing kathputli which made India one of the first countries to invent its traditional puppetry. Tribes of Rajasthan have been performing this art from the ancient times and it has become an eternal part of Rajasthani culture diversity and tradition. No village fair no religious festival and no social gathering in Rajasthan can be complete without the Kathputlis. It is believed that somewhere 1500 years ago, tribal Rajasthani Bhat community started the use of Kathputli as string marionette art and it is in their love for tradition that art of Kathputli survived the test of time. Tradition of Kathputli is based on folk tales and stories. Scholars believe that folk tales convey the lifestyle of ancient Rajasthani tribal people and Kathputli art might have originated from present day Nagaur and surrounding areas.[4] Rajasthani Kings and nobles were patrons of Art and Craft and they encouraged the craftsmen in activities ranging from wood and marble carving to weaving, pottery, painting and jewellery. Over the last 500 years, Kathputli was a system of patronage supported by kings and well-off families. The patrons would look after the artists in return for the artists singing praises of the patrons’ ancestors. Bhat community claim that their ancestors had performed for royal families, and received great honour and prestige from the rulers of Rajasthan.[5]
Today Kathputli art is one of the most popular performing arts of Rajasthan state of India after Ghoomar. Organisations like Rupayan Sansthan in Jodhpur founded by Vijaydan Detha and Komal Kothari in 1960 and Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur, founded by Devilal Samar in 1952, are working in the field preserving and promoting the art of Kathputli, the latter even has a puppet theater as well as puppet museum.[6] Capital New Delhi also has an area known as 'Kathputli Colony', in Shadipur Depot, where puppeteers, magicians, acrobats, dancers and musicians and other itinerant performance groups have settled for half a century.[7][8][9]
Overview
Characteristic to this form are the shrill voices produced by the lead puppeteer which are spoken through a bambooreed. The art of Rajasthani puppetry (also called Kathputli) originated a thousand years ago when the Bhat community began to practice this art. Patronised by many ruling families in the state, it soon grew into a major art form of the region.
A photo documentary of residents of Kathputli Colony, a colony of street performers and puppets masters in Shadipur
August 19, 2023
kathputli, puppetry, kathputli, string, puppet, theatre, native, rajasthan, india, most, popular, form, indian, puppetry, being, string, marionette, controlled, single, string, that, passes, from, puppet, over, puppeteers, rajasthani, puppeteerputli, meaning, . Kathputli is a string puppet theatre native to Rajasthan India and is the most popular form of Indian puppetry 1 Being a string marionette it is controlled by a single string that passes it from the top of the puppet over the puppeteers 2 Rajasthani puppeteerPutli meaning a doll Kathputli means a puppet which is made entirely from wood However it is made out of wood cotton cloth and metal wire Contents 1 History 2 Overview 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit A Kathputli show in Mandwa RajasthanSome scholars believe Kathputli art tradition is more than thousands years old 3 One finds its reference in Rajasthani folk tales ballads and sometimes even in folk songs Similar puppets which are rod puppets are also found in west Bengal But it is truly rajasthan s amazing kathputli which made India one of the first countries to invent its traditional puppetry Tribes of Rajasthan have been performing this art from the ancient times and it has become an eternal part of Rajasthani culture diversity and tradition No village fair no religious festival and no social gathering in Rajasthan can be complete without the Kathputlis It is believed that somewhere 1500 years ago tribal Rajasthani Bhat community started the use of Kathputli as string marionette art and it is in their love for tradition that art of Kathputli survived the test of time Tradition of Kathputli is based on folk tales and stories Scholars believe that folk tales convey the lifestyle of ancient Rajasthani tribal people and Kathputli art might have originated from present day Nagaur and surrounding areas 4 Rajasthani Kings and nobles were patrons of Art and Craft and they encouraged the craftsmen in activities ranging from wood and marble carving to weaving pottery painting and jewellery Over the last 500 years Kathputli was a system of patronage supported by kings and well off families The patrons would look after the artists in return for the artists singing praises of the patrons ancestors Bhat community claim that their ancestors had performed for royal families and received great honour and prestige from the rulers of Rajasthan 5 Today Kathputli art is one of the most popular performing arts of Rajasthan state of India after Ghoomar Organisations like Rupayan Sansthan in Jodhpur founded by Vijaydan Detha and Komal Kothari in 1960 and Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal Udaipur founded by Devilal Samar in 1952 are working in the field preserving and promoting the art of Kathputli the latter even has a puppet theater as well as puppet museum 6 Capital New Delhi also has an area known as Kathputli Colony in Shadipur Depot where puppeteers magicians acrobats dancers and musicians and other itinerant performance groups have settled for half a century 7 8 9 Overview EditCharacteristic to this form are the shrill voices produced by the lead puppeteer which are spoken through a bamboo reed The art of Rajasthani puppetry also called Kathputli originated a thousand years ago when the Bhat community began to practice this art Patronised by many ruling families in the state it soon grew into a major art form of the region References Edit Brandon p 93 Indian Puppetry https www auchitya com indian puppetry a rich ancient art that is slowly fading Ghosh p 75 Rajasthan by Anymique Choy Tarangi Singh p 35 History of Kathputli Folk artistes from Rajasthan are mesmerising Italian audience The Hindu 1 December 2007 Archived from the original on 4 December 2007 Magic slum may vanish in puff of development smoke The Sydney Morning Herald 27 March 2010 Show begins at Kathputli Colony Indian Express 16 February 2009 Archived from the original on 9 October 2012 Shrager Heidi J 20 June 2008 Postcard from Kathputli Magic Abounds in a Delhi Slum TIME magazine Archived from the original on 26 June 2008 Brandon James R Martin Banham 1997 The Cambridge guide to Asian theatre Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 58822 7 Ghosh Sampa Utpal Kumar Banerjee 2006 Indian puppets Abhinav Publications ISBN 81 7017 435 X Rajathani puppet at Britannica com Noted Kathputli artistsExternal links EditImages of Puppets in Rajasthan A photo documentary of residents of Kathputli Colony a colony of street performers and puppets masters in Shadipur Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kathputli puppetry amp oldid 1150686957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
