Tholu Bommalata- hand painted leather puppets

Tholu Bommalata, (In Telugu,  Tholu –  leather, Bommalata – puppet dance), is the traditional craft of AndhraPrandesh, which was flourished under the patronage of Vijayanagar kingdom.  The bright color combination on the leather which is translucent makes it perfect for the puppet show. I never got an opportunity watch the puppet show 🙁

Recently in a craft fest I could capture some images of the leather puppets: Normally the puppet shows narrate the stories of Ramayana and and Mahabharata:
Every puppet show commence with  a prayer to  Lord Ganesha. This is the puppet of Ganesha, which appears on the stage during the prayer.

 Puppets of Rama and Laxmana

 The artist holding the Puppet of Sita.

These puppets are made of translucent  goat skin and painted with natural colors. Now with the decline of the puppet show, the artisans have diversified their art in making different kinds of decorative items, like lampshades, wall hangings, frames, partitions  etc.
Lampshades:

 Partition with Radha and Krishna pictures :

Wall hangings:

Now there are hardly any puppet show using these kinds of leather puppet. Thanks to the artists of Tholu Bommalata , who kept the art of making puppets alive by diversifying their art. Most of the traditional arts and crafts, if changed according to the present day needs, it will be kept alive for the coming generations.

-Ranjana