Shadow puppet, Sita in Ashokavatika

This example depicts Sita in Ashokavatika, in the form of a shadow puppet, also known as Tholubomalattam. It is a scene puppet and not a character puppet.Shadow puppetry is an art form that is popular in South India and encompasses both visual and performing arts. The divine character puppets were believed to have a spirit potent enough to be propitiated.