The Puppets of India

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First Online: February 12, 2004
Page Last Updated: December 07, 2024

 

The Puppeteers
Article on the traveling puppeteers of India, and their art; includes pictures of a number of painted leather puppets.
Kamat Goes to a Puppet Show
Proceedings of a shadow puppet performance in rural India.

List of Pictures of Puppets




Soldier in Rama's Army, Leather Puppet
Soldier in Rama`s Army
Wooden Puppet of a Dancing Girl
A string puppet (made with wood) depicts a dancing girl

Wooden Puppets of Rajasthan in Traditional Indian Clothing
Wooden Puppets in Traditional Clothing
String Puppets during a performance
String Puppets During a Performance

Painted Leather Puppet shows Krishna Charioting Arjuna's Car
Krishna and Arjuna in a Leather Painting
String Puppets
String Puppets from Rajasthan

String puppets waiting for their turn to perform
String Puppets
Painted Puppet of Ganesh
Painted Shadow Puppet of Ganapati and a Follower

The Snake and The Charmer from a Puppet Show
The Cobra and the Snake Charmer
Leather Puppets
Indian Farmer with a Plough
Painted Leather Puppet, Karnataka

Gandhi Makes Salt
Puppets have been used in India to educate and entertain the illiterate. Here, a puppet shows Gandhi making salt to court arrest during the Salt Satyagraha
Gandhi Makes Salt - Leather Puppet
Leather Puppets
Lady Churning Curds

Close-up of an Indian Emperor
Detail of a leather puppet from Karnataka
Leather Puppets
Puppetter at Work
Giving final touches to a puppet
A young puppetteer at work. The skills of his profession are transfered to him by his forefathers.

Close-up of a female puppet
Detailed artwork on a puppet from Karnataka
Puppet Mask
Leather Puppets
Follower Monkey in Rama's Army
Painted leather puppet from Karnataka

Lady Churning Curds
Notice her décor and the earthen pots hanging from the tree
Leather Puppets
Puppetry Arts
Painted Leather Puppet
Private collection, Karnataka

A Close-up of Bullocks
Detail of a painted leather puppet
Leather Puppets
Leather Puppet
Shoorpanakha -- Ravana's sister
A mythological character from the Ramayana, leather puppet

Decorated Bull
Painted Leather Puppet, Karnataka
Leather Puppets
Leather Puppets
Silekyata's Hilarious Wife, Bangarekka
Design from a painted leather puppet, Karnataka

The Master Puppeteer Performs
Leather Puppeteer
Painted Puppets
Yudhishtira taking bullocks to the fields
Painted Leather Puppet, Karnataka

Leather Puppet of a Woman holding Sweets (Laddu)
Detail from a painted leather puppet, Karnataka
Leather Puppets


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