A cultural symbol, Kathpuli is Rajasthan’s age-old craft and a nurtured performing art. Made of wood, kathputli puppets are the creation of the puppeteers, known as Nats or Bhats. Today, these folk puppets have become a powerful tool for education across the globe.

The artform

The vibrant wooden puppets adorned with colourful traditional dresses and ornaments are a cultural symbol. The community creates beautiful kathputlis at their home with hand tools, decorating them with clothes, ornaments, and other accessories. The puppet, the puppet maker, and the puppeteers all have their distinct roles in defining the establishment of kathputlis. They have been an essential part of the social life of Rajasthan.

GI Tag

This GI was registered in the year 2006 and NABARD took the initiative to register more artisans/producers in this community. With the financial support of NABARD, 293 additional authorised users under Kathputlis of Rajasthan have been registered.