Efforts to revive Putola Naas (traditional puppetry of Assam) highlighted at Charcha Café 2026 in Guwahati.

What is Putola Naas?

• A traditional string puppetry theatre art form of Assam.
• Roots traced to:
  • Bhakti movement and Srimanta Sankardeva era
  • References found in ancient texts like Mahabharata
• Combines:
  • Storytelling, music, and theatre

Present Status

• Only 10–13 active puppetry groups remain in Assam.
• Practitioners face:
  • Declining audience base
  • Financial instability
• Many artists continue due to cultural passion rather than income

Challenges Identified

• High cost of production:
  • Puppet making, logistics, artist payments
• Lack of training:
  • Especially in scriptwriting and modern storytelling
• Limited institutional support
• Difficulty in reaching diverse audiences beyond children

Revival Efforts (Spearheaded by)

• Roots to Branches Foundation and NAAT Foundation
• Initiatives include:
  • Workshops and discussions (Charcha Café 2026)
  • Proposal for state-level puppetry association
  • Promotion of modern themes with traditional art

Key Takeaways

• Putola Naas is a declining yet culturally rich art form
• Revival requires:
  • Financial support, skill training and audience expansion
• Community and institutional efforts are crucial for survival

Exam Hook (Prelims-Oriented MCQ)

Consider the following statements:

1. Putola Naas is a traditional puppetry form of Assam.
2. It is associated with the Bhakti movement and Srimanta Sankardeva.
3. It is primarily a modern digital art form.

Which of the statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

One-line wrap: Reviving Putola Naas is essential to preserve Assam’s cultural heritage while adapting traditional art to modern audiences.

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