Are VedikCraft's Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) pieces hand-painted or prints?

Every Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece is genuinely handmade by a named artisan — one of a kind, never a print or machine copy.

Is this Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) authentic and GI-certified?

Yes. Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) is a GI-protected craft (registered as “Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)”). Every order ships with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and a QR code to verify its maker, region and GI status.

What does an authentic Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece cost?

Handmade Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) typically ranges from ₹800 to ₹40,000, depending on size, detail and the artisan.

How do I care for a Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece?

Keep Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) out of prolonged direct sunlight and damp, and dust it gently. Because each piece is handmade from natural materials, slight variations are part of its character.

Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) Shadow Puppets

GI TaggedLearn how Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) is made →

Products

Tholu Bommalata is the grand shadow-puppet theatre of Andhra, its large translucent hide figures painted in jewel colours and animated behind a backlit screen to enact the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The same craft now lights up homes as glowing lampshades.

Region of origin: Andhra Pradesh
GI registration: Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)
Materials: goat/deer hide; natural-dye
Techniques: translucent hide cutting; perforation; dyeing
HS code (customs): 4205

How it’s made

translucent hide cuttingperforationdyeing

The makers

Crafted by Aryakshatriya puppeteers of Andhra Pradesh.

Why “GI-tagged” matters

Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) is registered under India’s Geographical Indication (GI) Act as “Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)”. A GI tag legally certifies that a piece genuinely originates from its traditional region and is made by its rightful artisan community — your guarantee of authenticity.

Buying Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) — questions, answered

Are VedikCraft's Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) pieces hand-painted or prints?: Every Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece is genuinely handmade by a named artisan — one of a kind, never a print or machine copy.
Is this Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) authentic and GI-certified?: Yes. Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) is a GI-protected craft (registered as “Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)”). Every order ships with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and a QR code to verify its maker, region and GI status.
What does an authentic Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece cost?: Handmade Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) typically ranges from ₹800 to ₹40,000, depending on size, detail and the artisan.
How do I care for a Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) piece?: Keep Tholu Bommalata (Leather Puppets) out of prolonged direct sunlight and damp, and dust it gently. Because each piece is handmade from natural materials, slight variations are part of its character.

GI-certified authenticity

Rooted in India’s registered craft traditions

Artisan-direct

Made by the makers — fair, direct earnings

Traceable provenance

Every piece carries its maker, region & origin