Dang-er-Putul (Daang-er-Putul

Domain:Performing arts

State:

Description:

Folk Puppetry in West Bengal is called putul naach (putual puppet and naach means dance). It is the indigenous Road Puppetry spread over southern Parganas and the Sundarbans of West Bengal. The puppets are three to three and a half feet in height which are placed at the head of a four to five feet long pole. The pole is then placed over a hollow bamboo tube which is six to seven inches tall worn around the waist during the performance. In the early phase of puppetry, these puppets were heavy as their heads and shoulders were made of clay which did not allow enough manipulation of the puppets. Later, puppets were made from lighter wood for easy manipulation. The theme of the show revolved mostly around the Epics, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. From the past few decades, it has been increasingly influenced by the Jatra folk theatre of West Bengal. Besides Jatra people also write their own script on social issues like dowry and other social evils. Earlier society did not allow women to participate in puppetry. With increasing education in social opportunities have opened for women in performing arts.