Indian Wooden Puppetry Meets Indonesian Wayang Kulit – Bali in Bengaluru
About the Event
A Rare Encounter Between India and Bali Through Puppetry

Step into a captivating world of stories, music, movement, and light as Indian Wooden Puppetry and Indonesian Wayang Kulit come together for a special collaborative performance in Bengaluru.

This unique artistic encounter brings together two distinctive puppetry traditions, creating an evening where artists from India and Indonesia share the same stage and place their performance languages in conversation.

The collaboration offers audiences an opportunity to experience the contrasting forms, visual traditions, storytelling techniques, and cultural expressions of Indian wooden puppetry and Indonesian shadow puppetry.

Presented as part of Bali in Bengaluru, the event is organised in association with the Dhaatu Puppetry Museum and Madala Cultural Centre.

The performance is led by two acclaimed practitioners:

Padma Shree awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere and team, representing the Indian puppetry tradition, alongside Padma Shree awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia and team, representing Indonesian cultural and performance traditions.

Together, they create a rare meeting point between two rich artistic worlds.

One stage. Two traditions. Stories, music, movement and light.

Indian Wooden Puppetry

Indian wooden puppetry has a long history within the country's diverse storytelling traditions.

Through carved puppets, movement, music, narration, and performance, traditional puppetry can bring stories to life in ways that combine visual artistry with live theatre.

In this special collaboration, the Indian tradition is represented by the team led by Padma Shree awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere.

The performance provides audiences with an opportunity to experience the visual character of Indian wooden puppetry within a larger intercultural presentation.

The puppets themselves become part of the storytelling language, while music, movement, and narration contribute to the atmosphere of the performance.

Indonesian Wayang Kulit

The Indonesian tradition of Wayang Kulit is known for its distinctive use of puppets, light, shadow, music, and storytelling.

Rather than presenting puppets only as physical figures on a stage, Wayang Kulit creates a visual world through light and shadow, transforming movement into an immersive performance language.

In this event, the Indonesian tradition is represented by Padma Shree awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia and team.

Their participation brings an Indonesian perspective to the collaboration and creates an opportunity for audiences in Bengaluru to encounter Wayang Kulit alongside Indian wooden puppetry.

Two Puppetry Traditions Meet on One Stage

At the heart of the event is the meeting between two distinct artistic traditions.

Indian Wooden Puppetry

Indian wooden puppetry brings carved puppets, movement, storytelling, and live performance into the experience.

Indonesian Wayang Kulit

Wayang Kulit creates a world through puppetry, light, shadow, music, and performance.

Bringing these forms together creates a dialogue between two traditions that have developed within different cultural contexts while sharing an interest in storytelling and theatrical expression.

The event is therefore not simply a presentation of one form of puppetry, but a collaborative encounter between two artistic languages.

Stories, Music, Movement and Light

The performance is built around four essential elements:

Stories provide the narrative foundation.

Music helps shape rhythm, atmosphere, and emotional movement.

Movement gives life to the puppets and performers.

Light becomes a particularly important component in the visual language of Wayang Kulit while contributing to the overall theatrical experience.

Together, these elements create a performance that appeals not only to those already familiar with puppetry but also to audiences discovering these traditions for the first time.

A Cultural Exchange Through Performance

The event creates an opportunity for cross-cultural artistic exchange.

India and Bali have rich traditions of storytelling, theatre, music, ritual, and visual performance. Bringing practitioners from these traditions together allows audiences to observe how different cultures use performance to communicate stories and ideas.

Rather than treating the traditions as isolated forms, this collaboration places them within the same artistic environment.

The result is an evening centred on dialogue, discovery, and shared appreciation for traditional puppetry.

Led by Padma Shree Awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere

The Indian side of the collaboration is led by Padma Shree awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere and team.

Her participation brings the heritage of Indian puppetry to the event while contributing to the larger intercultural dialogue between the two traditions.

Through the performance, audiences can experience the visual and theatrical possibilities of Indian wooden puppetry as part of a collaborative cultural presentation.

Led by Padma Shree Awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia

Representing the Indonesian side is Padma Shree awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia and team.

His participation brings an Indonesian performance perspective to the event, with Wayang Kulit forming a central part of the artistic encounter.

The combination of his team with the Indian puppetry team creates the foundation for this rare cross-cultural performance.

A Rare Artistic Encounter

Events that bring two traditional puppetry practices together on a single stage offer a distinctive opportunity to observe differences in form, movement, materials, musical accompaniment, and storytelling.

The collaboration between Indian Wooden Puppetry and Indonesian Wayang Kulit makes this event particularly focused on artistic exchange.

Audiences can encounter two performance traditions in the same evening while observing how each communicates through puppets, movement, music, and visual theatre.

Part of Bali in Bengaluru

The performance is presented as part of Bali in Bengaluru, a cultural initiative that brings elements of Balinese and Indonesian artistic traditions to Bengaluru audiences.

As part of this programme, the puppetry collaboration provides a particularly visual and theatrical form of cultural exchange.

The event connects Bengaluru with artistic traditions from Bali and Indonesia while also placing them in dialogue with Indian performance practices.

In Association with Dhaatu Puppetry Museum

The event is presented in association with the Dhaatu Puppetry Museum.

The association adds a strong connection to the world of puppetry and traditional puppet arts.

The collaboration creates an opportunity for audiences to encounter puppetry not merely as a children's art form but as a sophisticated performing tradition combining craft, theatre, storytelling, music, and visual design.

In Association with Madala Cultural Centre

The event is also presented in association with the Madala Cultural Centre.

This partnership forms part of the wider cultural context of Bali in Bengaluru and contributes to the presentation of traditional performance practices to Bengaluru audiences.

Together, the associations help create an environment centred on cultural appreciation, performance, and artistic exchange.

Why Experience This Puppetry Collaboration?
Discover Indian Puppetry

Experience Indian wooden puppetry as part of a live cultural performance.

Explore Wayang Kulit

See the Indonesian shadow-puppetry tradition brought into a Bengaluru stage setting.

Witness Two Traditions Together

Experience the artistic dialogue between Indian and Indonesian puppetry.

Enjoy Storytelling Through Visual Theatre

Watch stories unfold through puppets, movement, music, and light.

Experience a Cross-Cultural Performance

Explore the meeting point between artistic traditions from India and Bali.

Discover Traditional Arts in a Contemporary Setting

See heritage performance forms presented for a live modern audience while retaining their distinctive artistic identities.

What to Expect
Indian Wooden Puppets

Experience the artistry and movement of Indian wooden puppetry.

Wayang Kulit

Discover the Indonesian tradition of storytelling through puppetry, light, and shadow.

Live Music

Music forms an important part of the theatrical experience.

Movement and Performance

Watch puppets and performers create stories through movement and visual expression.

Light and Shadow

Experience the visual possibilities created through Wayang Kulit and theatrical lighting.

Cultural Exchange

See two traditional performance traditions placed in dialogue on one stage.

Acclaimed Practitioners

The event is led by Padma Shree awardees Dr. Anupama Hoskere and Dr. I Wayan Dibia, along with their respective teams.

A Family-Friendly Cultural Experience

The event allows all ages, making it an accessible cultural experience for families, children, adults, and anyone interested in traditional arts.

Tickets are required for all ages.

The performance format combines visual storytelling, puppetry, music, and movement, making it a distinctive option for audiences looking to experience traditional performing arts together.

Venue and Seating

The event is hosted in an indoor venue with air conditioning.

Seating is pre-assigned, allowing attendees to have designated places within the performance space.

Guests are encouraged to check their ticket information for their assigned seating details.

Gates Open Before the Show

The gates will open 10 minutes before the scheduled show time.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive in advance so that they can complete entry procedures and settle into their assigned seats before the performance begins.

Pets Policy

Pets are not allowed at the event.

Guests should make suitable arrangements before attending.

Event Highlights
Indian Wooden Puppetry
Indonesian Wayang Kulit
Cross-cultural puppetry collaboration
Stories, music, movement and light
Led by Padma Shree awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere and team
Led by Padma Shree awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia and team
Part of Bali in Bengaluru
In association with Dhaatu Puppetry Museum
In association with Madala Cultural Centre
All ages allowed
Tickets required for all ages
Indoor venue with AC
Pre-assigned seating
Gates open 10 minutes before the show
Pets not allowed
Event Details at a Glance

Event: Indian Wooden Puppetry and Indonesian Wayang Kulit
Programme: Bali in Bengaluru
Indian Artist: Padma Shree awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere and team
Indonesian Artist: Padma Shree awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia and team
Art Forms: Indian Wooden Puppetry and Wayang Kulit
Experience: Stories, music, movement, light and cultural exchange
Age: All ages
Tickets: Required for all ages
Venue: Indoor with AC
Seating: Pre-assigned
Gates: Open 10 minutes before show time
Pets: Not allowed
Associations: Dhaatu Puppetry Museum and Madala Cultural Centre

Entry and ID Guidelines

Entry is allowed for all ages, and tickets are required for all attendees.

Guests should carry a valid ID proof along with them and be prepared to comply with applicable venue entry procedures.

Security procedures, including frisking, remain at the discretion of the management.

Prohibited and Hazardous Items

Dangerous or potentially hazardous objects are not permitted inside the venue.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Weapons
Knives
Guns
Fireworks
Helmets
Laser devices
Bottles
Musical instruments
Other dangerous or potentially hazardous objects

Such items may be removed from the venue, and management may eject them with or without their owner.

Intoxication and Conduct

People in an inebriated state may not be allowed entry.

Attendees are expected to behave responsibly and follow all instructions from venue management, organisers, and security personnel.

Late Entry

The organisers reserve the right to deny late entry to the event.

Guests are advised to arrive before the performance begins and take their seats promptly.

Ticket Cancellation and Rescheduling

All ticket purchases are final and non-refundable.

If the event is cancelled, ticket holders will receive a full refund.

If the event is rescheduled, ticket holders may choose to retain their ticket for the rescheduled date or opt for a refund.

Any refund processing will follow the applicable ticketing arrangements.

Personal Safety and Liability

The sponsors, performers, and organisers are not responsible for any injury or damage occurring due to the event.

Any claims regarding such matters will be settled in the courts in Mumbai, as stated in the supplied terms.

Attendees should take reasonable care of themselves and their personal belongings throughout the event.

Venue Rules

Venue rules apply throughout the programme.

Guests are expected to follow the instructions of venue management, event organisers, and security staff.

Experience the Meeting of India and Bali

The Indian Wooden Puppetry and Indonesian Wayang Kulit collaboration offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience two traditional puppetry forms within the same live performance.

Led by Padma Shree awardee Dr. Anupama Hoskere and team and Padma Shree awardee Dr. I Wayan Dibia and team, the presentation brings together stories, music, movement, light, and distinct performance languages from India and Indonesia.

As part of Bali in Bengaluru, and in association with the Dhaatu Puppetry Museum and Madala Cultural Centre, the event creates a space for cultural exchange through traditional performance.

With all-age entry, pre-assigned seating, and an indoor air-conditioned venue, the programme offers an opportunity for audiences of different generations to encounter puppetry as a living form of theatre and storytelling.

Come discover two traditions. Watch stories take shape. Experience the dialogue between Indian puppetry and Indonesian Wayang Kulit.