Puppet Dance
Puppet dance known as “Kandhei” or “Sakhi Nata”, a rare and unusual type of stylised indigenous drama and dance based on mythological stories, is being performed today in various parts of Orissa.
The puppets are usually the representations of various characters and animals of a particular drama. It is difficult to speak anything about its origin but undoubtedly is an old art. The making of dolls with paintings, dresses and ornaments is a typical folk art for the enjoyment of people of all categories.
Together with puppets there evolved another art popularly known as the expressive shadow plays, which has the added advantage of being able to cater to large audiences. The puppetry of Orissa may be classified into three categories, such as hand puppets, string puppets and rod puppets.
