Puppetry is an ancient and
popular form of folk entertainment. No village fair,
no religious festival and no social gathering in
Rajasthan can be complete without the
kathputlis
(string puppets).
Kathputlis
(Puppets) Click to enlarge.
With their exaggerated eyes
and brightly coloured dresses, the
kathputlis are
simply eye-catching.
The use of brick was almost
unknown in the geologically rich land of Rajasthan
which produces the country's finest marble,
sandstone, quartz and slate.
The extraordinary
craftsmanship of Rajasthani stone workers is amply
visible in the numerous temples and palaces. For the
connoisseur, there are life-like statues and the
intricately carved pillars and
jalis
(latticed grilles). The finest examples of
jali work can
be seen in the various havelis
(mansions) of Jaisalmer.
The
intricate jalis of Jaisalmer - click to
enlarge
