Vanishing Traditions: The Silent Strings of Rajasthan's Kathputli Art

In the land of vibrant turbans, swirling ghagras, and melodies of the desert, a quiet stillness is taking over—a stillness that once danced to the beat of the dholak and moved with the tug of a string.

- DR. SHWETA SHARMA

This is the stillness surrounding Kathputli, Rajasthan's age-old tradition of wooden puppetry, now battling for survival.

While the forts and palaces of Rajasthan continue to stand tall, some of its most fragile yet meaningful cultural traditions are slowly disappearing. The art of Kathputli is not just fading from the stage—it is at risk of vanishing from collective memory.

A GLIMPSE INTO A GLORIOUS PAST
The story of Kathputli is deeply embedded in Rajasthan's cultural roots. The term combines two words—'kath' (wood) and 'putli' (doll)—but these wooden puppets were never just dolls. For centuries, they were storytellers, entertainers, educators, and even moral guides.

It is believed that the Bhat community, traditional puppeteers of Rajasthan, originated this form more than a thousand years ago. Travelling from village to village, they would perform in local bazaars and temple fairs, narrating stories of legendary warriors like Pabuji Rathore, Tejaji, and other folk deities. They also told tales from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, infusing local dialect, humor, and wisdom into every performance.

These puppet shows were more than entertainment—they were tools of social education. With musical accompaniment and powerful dialogues, puppeteers conveyed messages about bravery, justice, social values, and even criticized unfair practices. In a time when literacy was scarce, Kathputli acted as a moving classroom for the masses.