Did puppetry originate in India?

The earliest reference to puppetry is found in Tamil classic ‘Silappadhikaram’ (1st or 2nd century B.C.)

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It categorized by ways of manipulating the puppet – Glove, Rod, String and Shadow Puppets.

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String: Kathputli (Rajasthan), Kundhei (Odisha), Bommalattam (Tamil Nadu)

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Shadow: Togalu Gombeyatta (Karnataka), Ravana Chhaya (Odisha), Thol Pavai Koothu (Tamil Nadu)

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Glove: Pava Kathakali (Kerala), Benir Putul (Bengal)

Rod: Putul Nautch (West Bengal), Yampuri (Bihar)

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