Man who preserves the tradition of Dhinki Kuta | Fusion - WeRIndia

Dhinki Kuta is a unique puppetry show in Cuttack. Many Durga Puja enthusiasts in Cuttack visit Chhatra Bazaar to watch the show.

This traditional performance has been a central part of the festivities in the area for over 60 years. It showcases daily life and kitchen chores in a typical Odia household.

The puppetry tradition was started by Bhagaban Chandra Laha, a silversmith from Mansinghpatna, who had a deep interest in puppetry despite never formally learning the craft.

His vision was to portray the daily routine of an Odia family’s food preparation, focusing on the vital role of women.

Assisted by two Muslim workers, Bhagaban staged these shows without much financial reward, driven by his passion for keeping the tradition alive.

Today, his son Ganesh Laha, a carpenter, continues the legacy. As the festival approaches, Ganesh is busy putting the final touches on the 32 puppets that will take the stage.

He took over the mantle after his father passed away 20 years ago, having learned the craft from him.

Each puppet, made from a combination of mud and wood, is meticulously dressed in traditional attire like sarees, dhotis, and kurtas.

The Dhinki Kuta show consists of nine scenes, each depicting different aspects of traditional Odia kitchen practices.

These include pounding rice with a dhinki, using a kula (winnowing basket), chaki (grinding stone), and preparing local delicacies like puffed rice and churned curd.

Real kitchen tools, such as wooden dhinkis, are used during the performances to enhance authenticity.

Bhagaban initially staged these shows to emphasize the integral role women play in feeding their families.

However, Ganesh has expanded the narrative to highlight the fading traditional cooking methods of Odia households.

The puppetry performances, which run from morning until night during the festival, bring in enough income to support Ganesh for about four to five months.

Though Chhatra Bazaar is the primary stage for the Dhinki Kuta show during Durga Puja, Ganesh’s puppetry has grown in popularity.

He is now invited to perform at other festivals like Lakshmi Puja in various places in the city, keeping this unique tradition alive across Odisha.

Image Credit: Neek-Theri, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chaki,_Arna_Jharna_Museum.jpg