Tholpavakoothu Experience
Where shadows speak and legends come alive – immerse yourself in the sacred art of Tholpavakoothu
As dusk falls over a quiet village in Kerala, the temple courtyard stirs with anticipation. The scent of oil lamps lingers in the air, mingling with the distant rhythm of drums and the low murmur of devotees gathering under the night sky. In the soft glow of flickering flames, a white screen stretches across a long wooden stage—the koothumadam. Behind it, shadows begin to stir.
This is Tholpavakoothu—an ancient ritual of shadow puppetry, brought to life by the devoted hands of traditional artists who have carried its sacred legacy through generations. And through Ekathra’s immersive experience, you are invited to step beyond the audience and into the heart of this living tradition.
Tholpavakoothu is more than performance—it is a divine offering. Rooted in the lore of the Kamba Ramayana, it is said to have begun at the request of Goddess Bhadrakali, who missed witnessing the battle between Rama and Ravana while she was engaged in her own war against the demon Darika. Since then, temples across Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu have kept this promise alive.
The stage is modest but sacred. On it, over 200 hand-crafted leather puppets depict gods, demons, kings, and animals in delicate silhouette. The artists, hidden from view, manipulate them with quiet concentration as they recite thousands of verses—memorized, not read—from ancient texts. The performance is accompanied by traditional instruments: the deep resonance of the chenda, the echo of the maddalam, the trill of the cherukuzhal. The puppets move, not just with hands, but with the breath of centuries. Some performances last a single night. Others unfold over 21, 41, or even 71 days—an epic devotion in rhythm and shadow.
In the villages where Tholpavakoothu survives, the art is a way of life. Families of puppeteers—some tracing their lineage back hundreds of years—train from childhood, learning the art of carving leather, chanting slokas, and understanding the deeper philosophies that underpin the tales. When you travel with Ekathra, you don’t simply observe from a distance. You meet the masters in their homes, watch them craft puppets by hand, and listen to their stories—of temples, gods, and a childhood spent behind the screen. You learn that this art is not just a performance, but a community’s prayer. And your presence there, your attention and respect, becomes part of that offering.
Tourism, when done with care, becomes a bridge—one that connects heritage to livelihood. Through this programme, Ekathra ensures that the artists, temple workers, local artisans, and even food providers directly benefit. Your journey becomes a circle of sustenance—for the art and for the people.
You might find yourself seated on a woven mat beneath a banyan tree, sipping black tea as the puppeteers chant invocations at twilight. Or in a quiet workshop, holding a puppet that has danced on temple screens for decades. Later, you may taste a temple meal prepared over firewood, its flavors simple, yet sacred.
You may not understand every word chanted. But you’ll feel the devotion in every note. You’ll sense the breathless pause of an audience during Ravana’s fall, the tremor of drums during Hanuman’s flight. You’ll witness an entire world unfold in shadows.
And long after the lamps have burned out and the village has fallen asleep, the story will stay with you—etched in memory, illuminated in spirit.
