Chitrakathi Art

Chitrakathi is practised in Pinguli, which is a small village in Maharashtra in Sindhudurg district near Kudal. The history of this is dated back to the 17th Century. It is a tribal art form which is performed or practised by Thakar tribe of Maharashtra. Their population is hardly 2000. 

 

The "Chitra" means image and "Katha" means story. The person who narrates the whole story is called as Chitrakathi. He does this with the help of some visual support. 

 

Chitra Katha can be identified by four forms:
1. Leather Shadow Puppets
2. Stringed Wooden Puppets (Kalsutri)
3. Picture Stories (known as Chitrakathi)
4. Bullock Art Show