Shadow puppet, Sita in Ashokavatika

Title
Shadow puppet, Sita in Ashokavatika
Year/Period
19th-20th centuries
Region
Karnataka, South India
Object Type
tholu bommalata puppets
Material
Goat or deer leather
Technique
Skinning the animal, washing the hide, scraping hair, soaking, beating, stretching, etching, tracing, painting, punching
Dimension
Object size: L66.0cm * W50.3cm
Accession No.
1996-02634
Collection of
Asian Civilisations Museum

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.

 

See related items

Shadow puppet, Sita

Shadow puppet, Sita

Shadow puppet, Ravana

Shadow puppet, Kumbhakarna

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