Tholpavakoothu Kerala’s Traditional Shadow Puppet Art

Tholpavakoothu represents one of Kerala’s oldest ritual performing traditions where shadow puppetry is integrated into temple worship, reflecting a deep blend of storytelling, devotion, and community-based cultural practice.

About Tholpavakoothu

Tholpavakoothu is a ritual-based shadow puppet theatre tradition of Kerala, performed mainly in Bhagavathy temples as an offering to Goddess Bhadrakali.

• It literally means “leather puppet show” in Malayalam, where thole means leather, pava means puppet, and koothu means performance.
• It is mainly practised in Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram districts of Kerala.
• The performance takes place inside a temple theatre structure called Koothumadam.
• A white cloth screen is used, and shadows are created using oil lamps known as vilakku.
• Puppets are made from treated animal hide, usually deer skin, and are finely carved and painted.
• The traditional performers belong to the Pulavar community, and the lead performer is called the Pulavar.
• The Pulavar sings, narrates, and controls the puppets simultaneously during performance.
• The art form is based on stories from the Kamba Ramayanam, the Tamil version of the Ramayana by Kamban.
• A full performance cycle can last 21, 41, or even 71 nights, making it one of India’s longest folk performances.
• Musical instruments like chenda, ilathalam, shankhu, and kuzhal are used for accompaniment.
• It is performed strictly as a ritual offering to the deity, based on the myth that Goddess Bhadrakali missed the war between Rama and Ravana because she was busy killing the demon Darika. 
• It is recognised under India’s intangible cultural heritage framework and supported by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
• Major challenges include declining patronage, youth migration, and restrictions on traditional raw materials.

‹ ›