Character from Ramayana, India, late 19th century WA507523

These large-scale puppets are made from animal hide, which when dried are translucent. When animal hides were more easily accessible and costs less prohibitive, prescribed kinds of leather were used for certain categories and characters. Today goatskin is generally used. If possible animals are selected which are big enough for the entire figure as seams spoil the translucency.

Once the figures have been trimmed to size and elaborately incised , the leathers are dyed rather than painted, which permits light to pass through the puppets. The result is that when the figures are placed in front of a white screen with light shining from behind, they appear in full colour on the screen. The dyed leather and elaborate cut-out designs result in luminous figures which are like stained glass, rather than shadows or silhouettes more usual in shadow puppet shows.

	Character from Ramayana, India, late 19th century WA507532

The puppeteer goes into seclusion when he prepares the figures of Ganesh, Krishna and Rama, performing puja (prayer and offerings) for the successful designing and completion of the figure.The puppet when ready for performance is consecrated by again offering puja. This completion ceremony takes place in the house of the puppeteer, just before a performance.