Kathputli
Rajasthan puppets are famous all around the world. Therefore these become the major souvenir items for the foreign as well as the local tourists. The puppets are all imitations of the royal families and local rulers. Apart from the few main ones the artisans also make portraits of famous rulers like Shivaji, Maharaja Jai Singh, Maharana Pratap, Maan Singh, Amar Singh Rathore, Nawab, Soldiers, Gujjar women for their puppet shows. Animals like Kacchi ghodi, camel, elephant, hangings etc. are also made for the puupet show programmes. Traditionally the themes of the performances were based on the life of Prithaviraj Chauchan, Amar Singh Rathore, Maharana Pratap, Dhola Maaru, Heer Ranjha, Dhobi Dhoban and Raja Rani etc. Today with the change in time, new themes are introduced to uplift this dying art. The Kathputli puppets help in creating awareness for Polio, AIDS, Child Marriages, Dowry and many other social evils.
