From Shadows to Spotlight: Karnataka’s 96-Year-Old Puppetry Maestro Wins Padma Shri!
At a time when traditional folk arts are vanishing Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara shines as a steadfast guardian of heritage The -year-old puppeteer from Moranala village in Karnataka s Koppal district has been honored with the nbsp Padma Shri one of India s highest civilian honors for her remarkable contributions to nbsp Togalu Gombeyaata a traditional form of shadow puppetry This recognition announced on nbsp January celebrates her lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Karnataka s rich artistic heritage A Family Legacy of PuppetryBorn into a family that has practiced Togalu Gombeyaata for over a century Shillekyathara grew up watching intricate leather puppets bring epics like the nbsp Ramayana and Mahabharata to life Over the past nbsp seven decades she has not only mastered the craft but also nbsp passed it on to the younger generation ensuring that the tradition does not fade away in the face of modernization Her performances