Kathputli (puppetry) - Revision history

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	Some scholars believe Kathputli art tradition is more than thousands years old.<ref name=gh>[[#Gh\|Ghosh, p. 75]]</ref> 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.<ref>''Rajasthan'', by Anymique Choy, Tarangi Singh, p. 35.</ref> 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 and painting. 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.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://kathputli.com/history.html\|title=History of Kathputli}}</ref>		Some scholars believe Kathputli art tradition is more than thousands years old.<ref name=gh>[[#Gh\|Ghosh, p. 75]]</ref> 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.<ref>''Rajasthan'', by Anymique Choy, Tarangi Singh, p. 35.</ref> 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 and painting. 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.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://kathputli.com/history.html\|title=History of Kathputli}}</ref>

	Today ''Kathputli'' art is one of the most popular performing arts of Rajasthan 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.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120158690700.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204061919/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120158690700.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=December 4, 2007\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|title=Folk artistes from Rajasthan are mesmerising Italian audience\|date=Dec 1, 2007}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/magic-slum-may-vanish-in-puff-of-development-smoke-20100326-r33a.html\|title=Magic slum may vanish in puff of development smoke\|date=March 27, 2010\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/show-begins-at-kathputli-colony/423940/ \|title=Show begins at Kathputli Colony \|date=Feb 16, 2009 \|work=Indian Express \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009231214/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/show-begins-at-kathputli-colony/423940/ \|archivedate=October 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="ti">{{cite news\|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1816792,00.html\|title=Postcard from Kathputli: Magic Abounds in a Delhi Slum\|date=Jun 20, 2008\|publisher=[[TIME]] magazine \| first=Heidi J. \| last=Shrager}}</ref>		Today ''Kathputli'' art is one of the most popular performing arts of Rajasthan 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.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120158690700.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204061919/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120158690700.htm\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=December 4, 2007\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|title=Folk artistes from Rajasthan are mesmerising Italian audience\|date=Dec 1, 2007}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/magic-slum-may-vanish-in-puff-of-development-smoke-20100326-r33a.html\|title=Magic slum may vanish in puff of development smoke\|date=March 27, 2010\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/show-begins-at-kathputli-colony/423940/ \|title=Show begins at Kathputli Colony \|date=Feb 16, 2009 \|work=Indian Express \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009231214/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/show-begins-at-kathputli-colony/423940/ \|archivedate=October 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="ti">{{cite news\|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1816792,00.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626091421/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1816792,00.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=June 26, 2008\|title=Postcard from Kathputli: Magic Abounds in a Delhi Slum\|date=Jun 20, 2008\|publisher=[[TIME]] magazine \| first=Heidi J. \| last=Shrager}}</ref>

	==Overview==		==Overview==

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[[File:Rajasthani-puppeteer.jpg|thumb|Rajasthani pupeteer]]
'''Kathputli''' is a string puppet theatre, native to [[Rajasthan]], [[India]], and is the most popular form of Indian puppetry.<ref name=br>[[#Br|Brandon, p. 93]]</ref> Being a string [[marionette]], it is controlled by a single string that passes it from the top of the puppet over the puppeteers. <ref>"Indian Puppetry" https://www.auchitya.com/indian-puppetry-a-rich-ancient-art-that-is-slowly-fading/</ref>

==Etymology==
Kathputli is a join of two [[rajasthani language]] words ''Kath'' meaning wood and ''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.

==History==
[[File:India Mandawa marionetas 01 ni.JPG|thumb|200px|A ''Kathputli show'' in [[Mandwa, Rajasthan|Mandwa]], [[Rajasthan]]]]
Some scholars believe Kathputli art tradition is more than thousands years old.<ref name=gh>[[#Gh|Ghosh, p. 75]]</ref> 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.<ref>''Rajasthan'', by Anymique Choy, Tarangi Singh, p. 35.</ref> 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 and painting. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kathputli.com/history.html|title=History of Kathputli}}</ref>

Today ''Kathputli'' art is one of the most popular performing arts of Rajasthan 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120158690700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204061919/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120158690700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 4, 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Folk artistes from Rajasthan are mesmerising Italian audience|date=Dec 1, 2007}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/magic-slum-may-vanish-in-puff-of-development-smoke-20100326-r33a.html|title=Magic slum may vanish in puff of development smoke|date=March 27, 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/show-begins-at-kathputli-colony/423940/ |title=Show begins at Kathputli Colony |date=Feb 16, 2009 |work=Indian Express |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009231214/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/show-begins-at-kathputli-colony/423940/ |archivedate=October 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="ti">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1816792,00.html|title=Postcard from Kathputli: Magic Abounds in a Delhi Slum|date=Jun 20, 2008|publisher=[[TIME]] magazine | first=Heidi J. | last=Shrager}}</ref>

==Overview==
Characteristic to this form are the shrill voices produced by the lead puppeteer which are spoken through a [[bamboo]] [[Reed (instrument)|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==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book|last=Brandon|first=James R. |author2=Martin Banham |title=The Cambridge guide to Asian theatre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttnH5W9qoBAC&pg=PA93&dq=kathputli&lr=&cd=13#v=onepage&q=kathputli&f=false|year=1997|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0-521-58822-7|ref=Br}}
* {{cite book|last= Ghosh|first=Sampa|author2=Utpal Kumar Banerjee|title=Indian puppets|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iy6_TtXCZjMC&pg=RA4-PA473&dq=kathputli&cd=7#v=onepage&q=kathputli&f=false|year=2006|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=81-7017-435-X|ref=Gh}}
* [http://www.britannica.com/search?query=Rajasthani+Puppet Rajathani puppet] at ''[[Britannica.com]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070807055310/http://anandfoundation.com/directory_list.asp?Cat1ID=26&Cat2ID=59 Noted Kathputli artists]

==External links==
* [https://www.flickr.com/groups/puppetsofrajasthan/pool/with/415449953/ Images of Puppets in Rajasthan]
*[https://www.sergebouvet.com/kathputli-colony A photo documentary of residents of Kathputli Colony, a colony of street performers and puppets masters in Shadipur ]

[[Category:Rajasthani culture]]
[[Category:Puppetry]]
[[Category:Theatre in India]]
[[Category:Puppetry in India]]