Puppet Making - Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Puppets are usually carved and played such a way as it is used to communicate the ideas and needs of the societies through the puppet shows. Puppet shows would be generally done during the evenings, the off harvest seasons, the village festivals or the puja’s were the entire village would gather together. It is usually played with the strings, jute ropes/ coir ropes and are often used in various plays at the streets, locations of play.
Artisan of Ahmedabad generally prefers the wood of Gulmohar to carve the different expressions of the characters of men and women. Generally the nose and the mouth are carved then the eyes part of the puppets are carved out. After which the head part is carved, then little part as neck is cut out and finishing is done with the sand paper if needed.
The premier wood polish is applied throughout the wood piece and left for drying completely, after which the wood piece is painted with different colors as per the characters of the play to be performed.
Hands of the Puppets:
Any cloth piece of cotton, polyester, silk etc. as per the need are taken, folded to the required lengths and cut to the required shapes. Cut pieces are placed on the ground then the filling material is placed as per the shapes to be obtained. The material is then stitched through and placed part by part on the painted wooden piece and stitched together to be fixed firmly. Matching cloth material that supports the character of the play are stitched to the puppet. The wooden and below portions are stitched with a cloth material as a belt piece and rounded with the fancy laces to enhance the look of the puppet.
Tying of the twines:
Each character of the play is tied with required lengths such a way, as per the dialogue or song/ music behind the characters that are enacted by lifting and lowering the puppets with their hand movements.
Flow Chart of Making Process:
