View source for Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara

{{Short description|Indian puppeteer artist}}

{{Infobox person
| name               = Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara
| image              = 
| caption            = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth year and age|1929}} <!-- Assuming 96 years old in 2025 -->
| birth_place        = Moranala, Koppal district, Karnataka, India
| occupation         = Puppeteer
| years_active       = 1950s–present
| known_for          = Togalu Gombeyaata (shadow puppetry)
| notable_works      = Preservation and performance of Togalu Gombeyaata
| awards             = [[Padma Shri]]
}}
'''Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara''' (Born:1929)<ref>{{Cite web |last= The Hindu Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2025-02-22 |title=Governor invites Padma Shri Bhimavva to Meghalaya Raj Bhavan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/governor-invites-padma-shri-bhimavva-to-meghalaya-raj-bhavan/article69251683.ece |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref> is a puppeteer from the [[Koppal district]] in [[Karnataka]]. She is 96 years old. She is performing [[Togalu gombeyaata|Togalu Gombeyaata]] for the last seven decades. Togalu Gombeyaata is a traditional art form which is used for storytelling. This kind of puppetry often narrates stories from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Saumya |date=2025-01-26 |title=Who Is Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, The 96-Year-Old Puppeteer Honored With Padma Shri? |url=https://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/96-year-old-karnataka-puppeteer-bhimavva-shillekyathara-wins-padma-shri-for-preserving-togalu-gombey-4053613.html|access-date=2025-05-02|language=en}}</ref> She has been honored with India's fourth highest civilian award [[Padma Shri|Padma shri]] from union government of India in the year 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-26 |title=Padma awards: 96-year-old puppeteer from Karnataka gets Padma Shri award. Who is she? |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/padma-awards-96-year-old-puppeteer-from-karnataka-gets-padma-shri-award-who-is-she-101737861739340.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126041307/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/padma-awards-96-year-old-puppeteer-from-karnataka-gets-padma-shri-award-who-is-she-101737861739340.html |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Shillekyathara is a native of Moranala village in Koppal district of Karnataka state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=96 Years of Artistry Honored with Padma Shri: Bhimavva Shillekyathara and the Timeless Magic of Togalu Gombeyaata |url=https://hindupost.in/news/96-years-of-artistry-honored-with-padma-shri-bhimavva-shillekyathara-and-the-timeless-magic-of-togalu-gombeyaata/# |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=hindupost.in |language=en-US}}</ref> Shillekyathara belongs to a family that has been custodians of Togalu Gombeyaata for over a century. She has also focused on training the younger generation to continue the tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Meet 96-Year-Old Bhimavva Shillekyathara, Kannada puppeteer who was honoured the Padma Shri |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/meet-96-year-old-bhimavva-shillekyathara-kannada-puppeteer-who-was-honoured-the-padma-shrinbsp/3826643/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{morecat|date=August 2025}}
[[Category:People from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian puppeteers]]