Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, a 96-year-old puppeteer from Karnataka, has been honored with the Padma Shri. In a prestigious ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan she received India’s fourth-highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu
With hands that once held leather puppets, bringing centuries-old stories to life, she now holds one of India’s highest civilian awards. Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, a 96-year-old puppeteer from Karnataka, has been honored with the Padma Shri. In a prestigious ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan she received India’s fourth-highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu, for her extraordinary contribution to the world of traditional leather show puppetry, ‘Togalu Gombeyaata.’
Draped in simplicity and tradition, Bhimavva Shillekyathara slowly walked through and bowed to PM Narendra Modi and the PM in admiration bowed back to her. The hall went silent and was broken by applause and a standing ovation while she was receiving her award.
A lifelong attachment with strings and stories
For nearly 80 years, Bhimavva has mesmerized audiences with her mastery of shadow puppetry. Her craft blends mythology, music, and movement, offering entertainment and a deep, soulful connection to India’s folk roots. Despite limited resources and fading public attention, she continued to travel, perform, and teach.
What is Togalu Gombeyaata?
Togalu Gombeyaata, meaning “a play of leather dolls” in Kannada, is a traditional shadow puppetry art from Karnataka. This performance style uses leather puppets to narrate mythological tales and folk stories.
Culturally significant and symbolically linked to fertility, it also shares deep historical and communal ties with Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppetry tradition of the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
