Puppets of Rajasthan: Rajasthani Kathputli, Price, Where to Buy, Shop
Rajasthan's traditional puppetry, which is known as "Kathputli," is a colourful and ancient form of folk entertainment. These puppets play on the tradition of Rajasthan, an ancient art form which people from all over the world like. In this entertaining performance, the Jaipur Kathputli is controlled by strings or marionettes known as Katputhlis.
If you want to know more about the puppets of Rajasthan, prices, where to buy, etc. then you have landed on the right page.
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Kathputli Origin
The art of Rajasthani Puppet which is also called as Kathputlis of Rajasthan came into existence a thousand years back. The name Kathputli is derived from two regional Rajasthani language words Kath and Putli where Kath means wood, and Putli means a doll or puppet, with no life. Bhats, a community of agricultural laborers of Rajasthan, practice this art of Puppetry in the country. These people carry forward the legacy of their traditional profession forward.
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So, we can say that Kathputli is a puppet made of wood or some other place used to entertain people.
Kathputli Puppets: Significance
Kathputli is a kind of string puppetry believed to be over a thousand years old. It originated from the Bhat community of Rajasthan. For ages, the puppets of Rajasthan have played a significant part in Rajasthani folklore, and are used by artists to describe mythological stories, local legends, and social commentary.
Jaipur Kathputli is made using wood, cloth, and sometimes metal, and is brightly painted to make it look more appealing. The puppeteers, called "Bhats," manipulate these puppets with strings attached to their limbs and head.
Kathputli Puppets: Performance Style
Using the Jaipur puppet, the artists perform and describe the story of Rajput heroes, kings, and queens, incorporating music, dance, etc. All these make the performance much more entertaining and presentable thereby getting the attention of the viewers.
The show often features traditional Rajasthani music with instruments like the dholak (drum) and harmonium.
Prices of Kathputli Puppets
The prices of these Puppets of Rajasthan differ based on their size, craftsmanship, and materials used. On an average, the prices charges for these are written below:
Size |
Price |
Small Jaipur puppet of size 6-10 inches |
INR 100 - INR 300 each |
Medium Puppets of size 12-18 inches |
INR 300- INR 700 each |
Large Puppets of 20-30 inches: |
INR 8,000- INR 1,500 each |
The buyers can also get customized sets as per their requirements. The prices for the same vary from INR 2000 - INR 5000 based on the number of puppets and the style of the design.
Places to Buy Kathputli Puppets
Rajasthani Puppetry is one of the most amazing styles of presenting the vast Indian culture in a unique and presentable manner. These lovely and colorful String Puppets in the country are hand-carved using wood and cloth.
If you are a great fan of these Kathputli Rajasthan then you will be amazed to know that you can buy Karthputi from various places in Rajasthan and online:
Popular Markets in Rajasthan to Shop Puppets of Rajasthan
Jaipur
Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar are the most popular markets in Jaipur to buy Jaipur kathputli. These markets are famous for selling a variety of handicrafts, including Kathputli puppets, as well.
Udaipur
While visiting Udaipur, don’t forget to include Rajasthan puppetry in your shopping list. Hathi Pol Bazaar and Shilpgram are two famous markets where you can explore a great variety of local crafts and puppets. Shilpgram is a small crafts village in the city selling traditional arts and crafts.
Jodhpur
On your trip to Jodhpur, visit Clock Tower Market which is known for local handicrafts, including Kathputli puppets.
Online Shopping of Kathpulti Rajasthan
- Amazon India: Various sellers offer Kathputli Rajasthan with customer reviews and ratings.
- India Mart: It is a popular platform where artisans sell numerous handmade Jaipur kathputli at the most affordable rates.
- Etsy: It is an international online shopping destination where Rajasthani artisans sell numerous handmade puppets to domestic and international clients.
- Craftsvilla: It is another popular online marketplace where you can shop from a variety of traditional Indian crafts, including Kathputli puppets as well.
- Local Artisans’ Websites: Many traditional artisans have created their own websites or social media accounts to sell these products directly to the customers.
By exploring the above-mentioned online and offline places, buyers can get authentic Puppets of Rajasthan at the most affordable rates. Buyers can easily buy Rajasthani Puppets Online from any corner of the world as these places offer a huge collection of lovely and colourful Kathputlis, handcrafted by the artisans of Rajasthan.
FAQs on Puppets of Rajasthan