By Vikash Sharma

Cuttack: Amid the elaborate decorations, grand idols and silver tableaux that define Cuttack’s Durga Puja celebrations, the traditional puppet display at Chhatra Bazar stands out as a reminder of the city’s rich cultural heritage. It is home to a 70-year-old puppet tradition known as Dhinki Kuta, a unique and rare form of puppetry staged annually during Durga Puja.

The show offers a glimpse into local folklore and everyday life. The colourful puppets, dressed in traditional costumes, offer a glimpse into an age-old form of folk entertainment that has continued to hold a special place in the city’s festive traditions. “The display reflects a cultural legacy believed to span around seven decades, connecting generations through a distinctive form of artistic expression,” said Dharmanand Patra, a Chhatra Bazar Puja Committee member.

The tradition was started more than seven decades ago by Bhagaban Chandra Laha, a silversmith from Mansinghpatna. Driven by passion rather than formal training, he designed, built and staged the puppets himself. He initially showcased them at Alam chand Bazar before moving to Chhatra Bazar.

Unlike traditional Indian puppetry, which primarily draws on mythological epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Dhinki Kuta depicts the daily life and kitchen chores of a typical Odia household.

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Cuttack’s Durga Puja is known for its elaborate pandals and silver decorations. But traditions such as the puppet display at Chhatra Bazar highlight a lesser-known dimension of the celebrations, where cultural preservation remains equally important.

The colourful puppets bring a sense of nostalgia to the festivities. Their traditional attire reminds people of a time when puppetry and folk performances were popular forms of entertainment, long before television and digital media became widespread. At a time when modern entertainment dominates, such displays help keep Odisha’s cultural traditions alive.

As Cuttack lights up for the festivities, the puppet show is a reminder that the state’s cultural heritage lives on not just through grand stories, but also through simple traditions of everyday life.