In a dimly lit gallery in Delhi, the ancient art of shadow puppetry comes alive at the ongoing exhibition, “Chhaya.” Visitors are transported into the epic worlds of the Ramayana and Mahabharata through hand-crafted leather puppets from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. One striking scene shows a golden deer—actually the demon Maricha in disguise—yelp “Lakshmana” as an arrow strikes, reenacting a pivotal moment from the Ramayana.
The exhibition showcases 45 intricately detailed puppets, with figures ranging from 10 to 76 inches in size. Siddhartha Tagore, founder of MATI – Management of Art Treasures of India, curated the display from his collection of 400 puppets. “This folk art, now nearly extinct, thrived in southern India,” he explains, highlighting its religious and secular themes, especially in Karnataka.
Craftsmanship is the heart of these puppets, each taking about a month to complete. Fourth-generation artisan Khande Bhaskar Rao from Andhra Pradesh describes the meticulous process: the leather is washed, dried, and sketched with black pencil before the design is punched and colored. The puppets are then mounted on bamboo sticks, brought to life through light and shadow in a team performance that takes six months to prepare.
As Ganesh Utsav approaches, Rao and his team prepare for performances, with dreams of one day showcasing their art in Ayodhya at the newly built Ram Temple. “Ayodhya jaane ka man hai. Perform karne milega toh zaroor jayega,” Rao shares, hoping to bring his ancient craft to a new audience.
