Ravana Chhaya
- November 23, 2020
Illustration: ACK Design Team
Ravana Chhaya or Ravana’s Shadow is a form of puppetry that belongs to Orissa and is based on the Vichitra Ramayana written by Vishwanath Khuntia, sometime between 1692 and 1720.
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In this puppetry show, Ravana’s character is seen as larger than the others and assumes a dignified form. The story is dramatised in seven episodes, each representing one ‘kand’ of the Ramayana. 700 puppets are needed for the performance, which happens over a week with one episode played out each night. The puppets are 6 to 8 inches tall and their shadows are cast on a white sheet using the light from an oil lamp.
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