String Puppet (Kathputli)

National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy

Title : String Puppet (Kathputli)

Accession No : 60/7/2127 (9)

"This is a string puppet which is locally known as Kathputli in Rajasthan. The puppet showcases a female character. The face and the body of the puppet is made of wood and it has beautifully carved features which are painted with bright colours to define its facial features. The facial features of the puppet have protruding eyes and red-coloured lips as well as a disinct looking Nath (nose-pin). The forehead of the puppet is decorated with a Matha-Patti. The body of the puppet is adorned with a orange-coloured lower garment known as Ghagra which has green and purple coloured leaf-detailing scattered all over it. While her chest is covered with an green-coloured garment that is known as Choli that has white-coloured detailings on it. The Ghagra has a Gota-detailing around the knee-portion while her wrists can be seen with a broad bangle. "

Gallery

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60721279B.jpg
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Provenance

  • CountryIndia
  • StateRajasthan

Condition

  • ConditionAverage
  • Action NoteCR; Slightly Damaged; Faded Colour

Contributor

  • Community / TribeBhat

Dimensions

  • Measurement (CMS)66 x 26 x 11
  • Weight (GRMS)0.00

Significance

  • Socio economicKathputli is a string puppet performance and is an ancient and well-known form of folk entertainment. It is one of the major tourist attractions of Rajasthan. They are a well known source of amusement in the state. The puppets are made and performed by a society of agricultural labourers, Bhat community of Rajasthan. These people are connected with puppetry to carry forward their traditional profession. Originally, they belong to the Nagaur area of the Marwar region; they travel all over the country to showcase the puppetry theatre. It was patronised by many ruling families of the state and later got popularised all over the region.

Description

  • Description"This is a string puppet which is locally known as Kathputli in Rajasthan. The puppet showcases a female character. The face and the body of the puppet is made of wood and it has beautifully carved features which are painted with bright colours to define its facial features. The facial features of the puppet have protruding eyes and red-coloured lips as well as a disinct looking Nath (nose-pin). The forehead of the puppet is decorated with a Matha-Patti. The body of the puppet is adorned with a orange-coloured lower garment known as Ghagra which has green and purple coloured leaf-detailing scattered all over it. While her chest is covered with an green-coloured garment that is known as Choli that has white-coloured detailings on it. The Ghagra has a Gota-detailing around the knee-portion while her wrists can be seen with a broad bangle. "
  • Inscription/Markings No
  • Reference"Jain, Jyotindra and Aarti Aggarwala. National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, New Delhi. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd., 1989. Chattopadhaya, Kamaladevi. Handicrafts of India. New Delhi: Indian Council for Cultural Research, 1975."
  • KeywordPuppet, String, Rajasthan, Wood, Cloth, Kathputli, Doll