Different Types of Puppets Found in India and Their Cultural Significance

India is widely celebrated as the homeland of puppetry, with a rich and ancient tradition where each region has developed its own style; these four traditional types of puppets—deriving their repertoire, costumes, and music from the folk theatre of their regions—are brought to life through the creative collaboration of many artists, blending storytelling, music, dance, and craftsmanship, and in this article you will discover how each type is made, where they are performed, the methods used to manipulate them, and the unique cultural heritage behind each form.

🎭 Puppet shows in India are not just entertainment – they are a mix of folk theatre, music, dance, and storytelling.

👉 In India, there are four main types of traditional puppets based on how they are controlled:

• ✅ String Puppets
• ✅ Shadow Puppets
• ✅ Glove Puppets
• ✅ Rod Puppets

Let us explore each type with examples from different states of India.

🎪 1. String Puppets-The Dancing Marionettes

India has a rich and ancient tradition of string puppets, also known as marionettes, making them one of the oldest and most celebrated forms of Indian puppetry. These puppets are admired for their lively movements, colorful costumes, and deep connection with folk culture.

✨How String Puppets Work

A string puppet is a figure with several joints, suspended from a wooden cross or bamboo control bar with strings. The puppeteer, standing above or behind the stage, skillfully moves these strings to make the puppet walk, dance, nod, or act out a story. Because of their flexible joints and multiple control points, string puppets can perform a wide range of gestures and expressions.

🪵Materials and Craftsmanship

Traditional string puppets are usually handcrafted from lightweight wood, wire, or cloth stuffed with cotton, rags, or sawdust. In some regions, papier‑mâché is also used. Their heads, arms, and legs are joined with soft ropes or wires, allowing smooth, lifelike movements. Skilled artisans often paint intricate facial features and dress the puppets in bright ethnic costumes inspired by local folk theatre.

🌍Regional Variations of String Puppetry Across India

The art of string puppetry is spread across many Indian states, each with its own name, style, and stories:

• Kathputli of Rajasthan  – Famous for vibrant costumes, jingling ornaments, and tales of kings, queens, and desert folklore.
• Putul Naach of Assam & West Bengal – Performed during village fairs with episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Gombeyatta of Karnataka – A unique blend of puppet acting with Yakshagana dance‑drama music.
• Kalasutri Bahulya of Maharashtra – Known for its humorous dialogues, devotional tales, and lively narration.
• Gopalila Kundhei of Odisha – Brings to life the playful stories of Lord Krishna and Radha.
• Bommalattam of Tamil Nadu – Features finely carved wooden puppets with temple festival themes and dramatic movements.

🎨Highlights and Modern Innovations

Among all these, Kathputli shows of Rajasthan are the most widely recognized, often performed at cultural festivals and tourist events. Today, some troupes in Rajasthan have started experimenting with LED lights, modern music, and innovative stage setups to attract younger audiences while keeping the centuries‑old art form alive.

💡Why They Matter:

String puppets are not just entertainment; they are a window into India’s storytelling traditions, folk music, and regional artistry. Watching a live string puppet show is like stepping into a moving painting of India’s cultural soul.

🌑2. Shadow Puppets-The Art of Silhouettes 

India’s ancient tradition of shadow puppetry creates a world where stories come alive through dancing shadows. Instead of seeing the puppets directly, audiences watch their silhouettes projected onto a screen, making the experience dramatic and enchanting.

✨How Shadow Puppets Work

Shadow puppets are flat figures, usually handcrafted from leather or treated animal hide. These puppets are carefully carved with tiny perforations and often painted in vibrant natural dyes. During a performance, they are pressed against a thin white screen, and a strong light source—such as a lamp or firelight—placed behind them projects their shadows to the audience seated in darkness.

🌍 Regional Shadow Puppet Traditions in India

Shadow puppetry has unique forms in different states, each with its own name and style:

• Tholu Bommalata (Andhra Pradesh):
  Large, colorful shadow puppets performing Ramayana and Mahabharata stories with songs in Telugu.

• Chamadyache Bahulya (Maharashtra – Ratnagiri):
  Smaller shadow puppets used for folk tales and moral lessons.

• Thol Bommalattam (Tamil Nadu):
  Performances known for fast movements and rhythmic drum accompaniments.

• Rabonochaya (Odisha):
  Smaller leather figures often staged during temple fairs and festivals.

🛠️ Materials and Craftsmanship

Artisans shape these puppets with intricate details, giving them expressive eyes, decorative borders, and colorful designs. They are often mounted vertically on cane or bamboo sticks, allowing the puppeteer to move them smoothly. The dark surroundings, rhythmic drumbeats, and live narration heighten the sense of magic.

🎨 Cultural Significance and Unique Insights

These shows are more than entertainment; they are a window into India’s heritage. In some temples of Andhra Pradesh, shadow puppet troupes are even invited during religious festivals as an offering to the deity, connecting this art form with spiritual traditions.

👉 Highlight: Shadow puppetry is not only about visuals; it is a combination of folk theatre, music, and storytelling, creating a truly immersive experience for the audience.

🧤3. Glove Puppets-The Art of Finger Puppetry

Glove puppetry is one of the most intimate and lively forms of traditional puppetry in India. Also known as hand puppetry, this form involves puppets made of cloth and worn directly on the puppeteer's hand—bringing characters to life with simple movements and vivid storytelling.A single performer often controls two puppets at once, creating humorous dialogues and dramatic exchanges that captivate audiences of all ages.

Structure and Manupilation of Glove Puppets

As the name suggests, glove puppets are shaped like gloves and worn directly on the puppeteer’s hand. These small puppets are designed for expressive movements, with bright costumes and flexible gestures that bring characters to life.

• Head: Usually crafted from wood or clay, giving it a sturdy and expressive face.

• Body: Made of cloth that completely covers the puppeteer’s hand, forming the puppet’s flowing costume.

• Control Mechanism: The index finger controls the head, while the thumb and middle finger operate the arms, allowing the puppet to nod, gesture, and perform lifelike movements.

• Performance Style: A skilled puppeteer can animate two glove puppets at once, creating dynamic conversations and storytelling.

🌍Regional Styles of Glove Puppetry in India

Glove puppetry is popular in several Indian states, with each region adding its own distinct style and stories to the tradition.

• Kerala – Pava Kathakali or Pava Kuthu-In Kerala, glove puppets are miniature versions of Kathakali dancers. They wear traditional costumes and makeup, and the performances often follow the mythological themes of Kathakali dance. Some glove puppeteers even learn basic Kathakali mudras (hand gestures) to make the puppets more expressive.These shows are typically performed in open-air spaces with musical accompaniments and dramatic narration.

• West Bengal – Bener Putul-In West Bengal, glove puppets are known as Bener Putul. The puppeteer holds one male and one female puppet, often playing a damru (a small drum) to grab attention and add rhythm to the performance.

• Odisha – Sakhi Kundhei-In Odisha, the glove puppet tradition is called Sakhi Kundhei, which means “friendly doll.” These shows highlight the love stories of Radha and Krishna, especially during fairs and village festivals.The puppets are colorfully dressed and depict romantic episodes and divine playfulness.

• Uttar Pradesh – Gulabo-Sitabo-This style of glove puppetry tells comic tales of a man’s two wives, Gulabo and Sitabo, who constantly quarrel. These shows are laced with bawdy humor, clever dialogues, and catchy folk songs.The interactive format makes these shows highly popular in local gatherings and community events.

🎭The Living Art of Glove Puppetry

Glove puppetry is more than just a form of entertainment — it is a living tradition that brings stories to life using simple tools and great imagination. From Kerala’s dramatic Pava Kathakali to the humorous Gulabo-Sitabo shows of Uttar Pradesh, each region adds its own charm. With just three fingers and a puppet made of cloth, artists create unforgettable characters and moments. Even today, glove puppetry continues to connect people with folk tales, cultural values, and the magic of live performance.

🎎4. Rod Puppets-Larger and Stronger

Rod puppetry is one of the most vibrant and dramatic forms of traditional puppetry in India. These puppets are larger than glove puppets and are handled using long rods from below, allowing them to make bold gestures, dance, and act with powerful stage presence. Popular in states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar, rod puppets are used in folk theatre performances, devotional storytelling, and even spiritual themes about life and death.

Unlike glove puppets that fit on the hand, rod puppets are operated with sticks or rods. This gives the puppeteer more control to create lively and expressive movements. Whether it's the soulful tales of Radha-Krishna or the ghostly stories of the afterlife, rod puppets bring Indian folklore to life in a truly engaging way.

✨How Rod Puppets Work- Construction and Operation

Rod puppets are designed for dramatic performance. They are usually made from wood or papier-mâché(a lightweight material made by sticking pieces of paper with glue or flour paste),dressed in colorful costumes, and painted with detailed facial expressions.

• Main Rod: This strong rod is attached to the puppet’s head and helps in turning or nodding it.
• Side Rods: Two thinner rods are connected to the hands or costume. These help the puppeteer move the puppet's arms and perform actions like dancing or acting.
• Size and Flexibility: These puppets are much larger than glove puppets and can display bold movements on stage due to their sturdy structure.
• Artistic Features: Some rod puppeteers in Bengal even add movable eyes or eyebrows to give their characters more lifelike expressions.

This flexible design allows performers to stage powerful scenes from epics and local legends, turning a simple puppet act into a vibrant theatrical event.

🌍 Famous Regional Rod Puppet Traditions in India

Rod puppetry varies across different regions of India, with each style adding its own regional touch and storytelling essence. Every region brings a unique form and theme to this traditional art.

• Dan‑ger Putul Naach(West Bengal)-In West Bengal, rod puppetry is known as Dan‑ger Putul Naach, a vibrant tradition influenced by Jatra, the region’s popular folk theatre known for loud music, colorful costumes, and emotional storytelling. Puppets in this form wear elaborate outfits similar to stage actors and often feature movable eyes and eyebrows, allowing them to express lifelike emotions. This unique blend of puppetry and theatrical drama creates a powerful storytelling experience that keeps Bengal’s folk heritage alive on stage.

• Kathi Kundhei (Odisha)-In Odisha, rod puppetry is known as Kathi Kundhei (puppet on a stick), a traditional form that draws inspiration from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. These performances follow the local Jatra style, blending devotional songs, lively music, and colorful dialogues. The shows are both religious and entertaining, making a strong emotional connection with the audience through familiar mythological tales and cultural themes.

• Yampuri (Bihar)-In Bihar, rod puppetry takes a rare and deeply spiritual form known as Yampuri. Unlike other regional styles that focus on folk tales or mythology, Yampuri delves into profound themes of life after death, morality, and the unseen world of spirits, drawing heavily from Bihari folklore. The puppets, often stiff and stylized, carry an eerie, haunting presence that enhances the depth of the stories. These performances are more than entertainment—they serve as powerful mediums to explore ethical lessons, spiritual beliefs, and the eternal questions of human existence.

Together, these three regions showcase the diversity and depth of rod puppetry in India—each keeping alive a rich tradition of folk theatre in its own way.

🌟Why Rod Puppetry Still Matters Today

In a world increasingly driven by digital screens and CGI-powered entertainment, rod puppetry stands tall as a soulful reminder of India’s cultural richness. These handcrafted puppets—moved by simple rods but powered by centuries of tradition—continue to thrive in village squares and festive grounds. Whether it’s the spiritual themes of Bihar’s Yampuri, the mythological grandeur of Odisha’s Kathi Kundhei, or the dramatic flair of Bengal’s Dan-ger Putul Naach, each performance enchants audiences with heart-touching stories, moral values, and deep-rooted heritage. In this fast-paced digital era, rod puppets prove that tradition can be just as magical—and often more meaningful—than modern technology.

 🎬 Keeping India's Puppetry Traditions Alive

India’s puppetry is full of color, creativity, and culture. From the string puppets of Rajasthan to the shadow stories of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, every type of puppet shows something special about our rich heritage. Glove puppets in Kerala, Odisha, Bengal, and UP bring life to simple cloth figures, while rod puppets in Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar use bigger, dramatic movements to tell powerful stories.

Each puppet form shares local tales, values, and traditions that have been passed down for generations. By enjoying and supporting these old art forms, we help keep India’s storytelling spirit alive. Let’s celebrate these beautiful puppets—not just as entertainment, but as treasures of our culture that deserve to be seen, loved, and passed on.

 Please do read my other blogposts, link below:⏬

ORIGIN OF PUPPETRY IN INDIA

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUPPETS FOUND IN INDIA

THEMES OF PUPPETS SHOWS IN INDIA

FAMOUS PUPPETEERS IN INDIA.

ROLE OF PUPPETEER IN PUPPETRY SHOWS

KATHPUTLI-THE TRADITIONAL FOLK ART OF RAJASTHAN

PUTUL NAACH(DANCE):THE FOLK PUPPETRY OF WEST BENGAL

SHADOW PUPPETRY IN INDIA

ADVANTAGES OF PUPPETRY AS A MEDIUM FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

PUPPETRY AS MEDIUM FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

EXPLORING THE COMPLEX CHARACTER OF NOBITA NOBI IN DORAEMON

MY VISIT TO ALIPORE JAIL MUSEUM

EXPIRED DOMAIN ABUSE