|
The craft of making Leather Puppets originated in the small village of Nimmmalakunta in Andhra Pradesh. Before the advent of television, Leather Puppetry was one of the major forms of entertainment not only to the rustic people but also to the people dwelling in towns and cities. The popularity of Leather Puppetry has partially dwindled but even now it is widely prevalent in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Locally, the Leather Puppetry shows are referred to as Tholu Bommalata. They are based on stories from the Indian epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata. In this case, holes are made on the Leather Puppets and a slim bamboo stick is attached to them so that they remain straight. Strings are attached to the various joints of the Leather Puppets to facilitate controlling their movements.
The main raw material that is used for making Leather Puppets is the skin of goats and sheep. It is the responsibility of the Leather Puppet Society to supply the craftsmen with the leather that is required for making the Leather Puppets. The skin of the animals is subjected to an intensive process of cleaning.
|
