Sakhi kandhei (Also ''sakhi kundhei'', ''sakhi nata'') is a string
puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – wikt:inanimate, inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer. S ...
show popular in the
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
n state of
Odisha
Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...
,
especially in the
Kendrapara district of
Odisha
Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...
. This form of art is still performed by local artists in and around Palakana, a small village in Kendrapara. Puppeteers generally form groups and travel from village to village for performing shows. Wooden dolls are tied to strings which are controlled by pulling and releasing the strings. Different expressions by pulling the strings narrate tales from the
and modern social life.
A group of artists perform music and give background voice for the narration of stories.
Considering sakhi kandhei a dying art form,
Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi is taking steps to popularize and revive it.
A handful of puppeteers have taken initiatives to revive this art form.
Puppets
Wooden puppets are used in Sakhi kandhei which have three pieces; head and the two hands with the wrists with hole in them to insert fingers. The three pieces are joined together and long sleeved dresses are used to cover the bodies. Strings are attached to the thumb, limbs and other body parts which are pulled and released to give rhythmic gesture based on the story's narratives.
See also
*
Chadar Badar, puppet art of Santhal people of India
*
Gopalila, puppet art of Odisha state of India
*
Kathputli (puppetry), puppet art of Rajasthan state of India
*
Nokkuvidya pavakali, puppet art of Kerala state of India
*
Rabana Chhaya, shadow puppet art of Odisha state of India
*
Shadow play
Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim (material), ...
, shadow puppet art which originated in first millennium BCE in India
*
Tholpavakoothu, shadow puppet art of Kerala and Tami Nadu states of India
*
Tholu bommalata
''Tholu bommalata'' is the shadow puppet theatre tradition of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India with roots dating back to 3rd century BCE. Its performers are part of a group of wandering entertainers and peddlers who pass through villages d ...
, shadow puppet art of Andhra Pradesh state of India
*
Togalu gombeyaata, shadow puppet art of Karnataka state of India
*
Wayang
( , ) is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. The term refers both to the show as a whole and the puppet in particular. Performances of wayang puppet theatre are accompanied by a ''gamel ...
, puppet art of Indonesia inspired by Indian puppetry
References
See also
*
Kathputli (Puppet)
*
Puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – wikt:inanimate, inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer. S ...
Odia culture
Puppetry in India
{{odisha-stub