Puppetry in India (c): Glove puppet

Glove puppets are very interesting form of puppets. Puppeteers wear the puppets in hand like gloves and manipulate them with fingers. The forefinger of puppeteer is used as head and the thumb and the third finger is used as puppets two hands. While manipulating puppet, puppeteer’s facial expression plays important role. Glove puppet tradition is prevalent in Kerala, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West-Bengal.

The Glove puppets of Kerala are known as Pava lootu. Glove puppets are made of light wood. For decorating Pava Kathakali, painting is done along with the using of peacock feather and transparent coral. Kathakali tradition has deep influence in Pava Kathakali. Costume and headdress have resemblance to Kathakali actors.Stories are enacted from the dance stories of Kathakali.Pava Kathakali mainly performs the Mahabharata’s stories “Duryodhanavadham”, “Uttaraswayamvaram” and “Kalyanasaugandhikam”. Heights of Pava Kathakali puppets are 30 to 60 centimeters.

Glove puppetry tradition of Odisha is known as Sakhi kundhei nach. Puppeteer wears the puppets in both hands. Puppeteer moves his fingers and wrist to the depth of the puppet and manipulates them.

Glove puppet tradition of Uttar Pradesh is known as Gulabo–Sitaro. GulaboSitaro represents two women who are married to the same man. Animosities among the co-wives are representing by Gulabo Sitaro play. Formerly head portion of puppets were made by wood but presently papier-mache is used.

Benir Putul Nach is another famous Putul nach of Medinipur.It is a very interesting and beautiful puppet form. The head portion of the puppets is made of terracotta while hands and stumps are made of wood.