Chekka Bommalata of Burugupeta Village, Telangana State As part of 8th Anniversary Celebration, Lamakaan is organizing Traditional Wooden String Puppetry-Chekka Bommlata or Koyya Bommlata at Lamakaan.

Chekka Bommlata or Koyya Bommlata –String Puppetry is pride of Telangana State. At present two Mothe troupes-One from Ammapuram which is quite well known and second is Burugupeta (lesser known) perform it.

They belong to Beda Budiga Jangam Community. The uniqueness of this Budiga Jangam community is they are good singing, music rendition and in folk art forms. Buduga Jangam is an artistic community which has more than 24 sub communities along with Bommalalollu, Sarada Kala Rupamvalu, Kakipapala, Ganayeti, Mandhechchu, and so on.

However, Buduga is a percussion instrument associated with the narration of Jangam Kathas or Kathalu. This instrument is also known as Buduga, Budiga, Dikki,and Gummeta in Telugu. This Buduga Jangam community is the traditional narrators of stories from mythology, epics, and heroic tales of the region.

They also performed the obsequies rites to the saivites and in return were paid Beda or byada coin by them. So, they are also known as Beda Jangam or Beda Budiga Jangam. 8 Beda or Byada (this is how they pronounce it) is equal to Re-1/- and 16 Ek Anna equals to 8 Bydalu.

Basically, Budiga Jangaluvalu are wandering hunters and food gatherer. However, present generation is quite well educated and chosen alternative profession for livelihood. Mothe Shankar who is the grandson of octogenarian Mothe Ramaswamy is a photographer and has his own studio. He is the troupe in charge of Burugupeta Bommalata. Along with him his brothers, cousins and his own son are receiving training from Mothe Yadagiri and Mothe Ramaswamy. They feel the pride of the art form resting with their family which is unique.