Technology meets tradition: The robotic leather puppets in Kerala | Art and Culture
Koonathara, Palakkad – The cool breeze, affectionate prayer verses and eye-catching puppet show fascinated more than 25 spectators sitting on chairs under the night sky in the village of Koonathara in the Palakkad region of Kerala, India. They are a mixture of locals and tourists from all over the world.
Tholpavakoothu (thol means leather, pava means puppet, and koothu means game) is a type of shadow puppetry performed during events and festivals held in temples dedicated to the goddess Durga or Kali. This art form only exists in Palakkad, Thrissur and neighboring villages in Kerala.