• Indian Puppetry
• Puppet Types
  • Glove
  • Rod
  • Shadow
  • String
• Puppet Traditions
• Pavai

Different types of puppets are used in traditional puppetry. The differences exist not only in names, but also in form, structure, manipulation and presentation techniques. The different traditional forms are glove, rod, string, and shadow puppets. The local name given to puppetry varies from state to state within India.

Shadow
Shadow puppets are flat puppets that are operated against the rear of a tightly stretched white cloth screen with a light behind it so that the audience looks at the shadow of the puppet on the screen. Traditional shadow puppets are two-dimensional and are made of animal skin. The puppet shapes or cutouts are perforated and split bamboo or cane sticks are attached vertically to the puppet for handling and manipulation. The puppets are pressed against the screen and manipulated for the performance. The shadow puppet performance is known as shadow (Leather) play or shadow theatre. The Shadow puppet theatre is practiced in the states of Andhra Pradesh (Tholu Bommalata), Karnataka (Togalu Gombeyata), Kerala (Tolpavakoothu), Maharashtra (chamadyache Bahulya), Orissa, and Tamil Nadu (Tolpavaikoothu).