Volunteer with Sceen at
DhaatuPuppet Theater
Help bring the dolls and puppets to life at Dhaatu's workshops, shows and festivals in Bengaluru. Pick a shift, see who else is coming, and manage it all from your phone.
About Dhaatu
Dhaatu is a not-for-profit puppet theater and culture education centre in Bengaluru, founded in 2004. It tells stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the works of Bhasa and Kalidasa, and the Panchatantra through two old Indian art forms: doll-keeping (bombe) and puppetry.
Its founder, Smt. Anupama Hoskere, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2024 for her work in puppetry.
- Founded2004, Bengaluru
- Art formsDoll-keeping (bombe) and puppetry
- This yearNavaratra Mahotsava 2026, the 31st year of Dhaatu's doll exhibition, 11 Oct to 1 Nov at Mandala Cultural Centre, Kanakapura Road
- Moredhaatupuppets.org
What you'll help with
- Setting up the stage
- Untangling and handling puppets
- Guiding visitors through the exhibition
- Seating people for shows
The Dhaatu team shows you what's needed on the day. No experience needed.
Volunteer guidelines
- Wear traditional Indian attire.
- Be on time. Arrive a little before your shift starts.
- For Mandala Cultural Centre, take the metro to Silk Institute station. The centre is right opposite.
- Speak to every visitor with respect.
- Be gentle and polite with children.
- Follow the lead of Smt. Anupama Hoskere and the Dhaatu team.
- Help the team wherever it is needed: the stage, the puppets, the crowd, the seating.
- Eat only in the designated food area.
- Leave your footwear at the stands.
- Only sign up for shifts you can keep. If you can't make it, drop the shift from My shifts as early as you can and tell us why. After a no-show, you can't sign up for any Sceen activity for 6 months.
Who
Anyone aged 16 or older. If you're 16 or 17, bring a letter signed by a parent or guardian.
Language
Speaking Kannada helps a lot with visitors, but you don't need it.
Pay and food
Most slots are unpaid. During the Navaratra Mahotsava, the all-day slot from Monday to Thursday pays a ₹500 stipend and travel on receipts; each activity card says what its slots pay. Every volunteer gets lunch and tea, and a certificate once their attendance is marked.
Upcoming opportunities
Each shift shows who has signed up. Tap one to join.
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Recently done
Thank you to everyone who came.
My shifts
See your shifts, download your pass or certificate, drop a shift, or leave a note. Use the phone number and PIN you signed up with.
Questions
Can I sign up for more than one shift?
Yes. Pick as many as you can really turn up for.
How will I know if I get off the waitlist?
If someone drops, the first person waiting moves up automatically, and we email you. Your pass is then in My shifts.
Can't make it any more?
Drop the shift from My shifts as early as you can, and tell us clearly why. If the reason is valid and you tell us well before the shift, it counts as cancelled. If you don't turn up, don't give a valid reason, or tell us too late, it counts as a no-show, and you can't sign up for any Sceen activity for 6 months. Your place goes to the next person waiting.
How do I get a certificate?
After your shift, once the team marks your attendance, a Your certificate button appears in My shifts. Each certificate has a code anyone can check on this site.
Will my name be shown?
Your first name and last initial appear next to the shift you pick. Your phone number, email and date of birth are never shown.
I forgot my PIN.
Message Sceen on WhatsApp from the number you signed up with and we'll reset it.