Let's explore the
storyteller in you!
CHAYA KI MAYA
Chaya Ki Maya reimagines storytelling as an interplay of light, shadow, and wonder. Created especially for teachers, it draws on the enchanting art of shadow puppetry to turn the classroom into a vibrant space of visual narrative, imaginative exploration, expressive learning, and lasting inspiration.
HOW THE MAGIC UNFOLDS
From first idea to moving image, Chhaya Ki Maya unfolds through a simple yet enchanting creative journey.
CREATE
Shape stories from the simplest of materials.
PERFORM
Bring shadow, movement, and imagination to life.
FILM
Transform the experience into a lasting visual resource.
A STORY OF INSPIRATION,
CREATION, AND HONOUR
Palak Jolly, who participated in the Chaya Ki Maya Shadow Puppetry Workshop at Craft Village, was so deeply inspired by the experience that she carried its creative spirit into her school project. She created a film titled Rickshawala, which went on to win the Special Jury Award (Video) at the 21st All India Children’s Educational Audio Video Festival & ICT Mela, 2017, organised by NCERT.
GLIMPSES
Chaya Ki Maya has been a journey of light, shadow, imagination, and transformative creativity. Through this unique experience, teachers and students have discovered the enchanting power of shadow puppetry to tell stories, create visual resources, and bring learning alive in deeply engaging ways. From immersive workshops to beautiful shadow films and inspiring stage applications, Chaya Ki Maya continues to open new pathways for artistic expression, meaningful learning, and unforgettable educational experiences.
CREATE
Turn simple materials into extraordinary stories
Create invites the storyteller in you to begin making shadow stories with freedom, ease, and joy, whether on your own or with like-minded collaborators. No expensive resources, no elaborate setup, and no intimidating process; just paper cut-outs, light, a phone, and imagination brought vividly to life. It is a beautifully accessible way to create with immediacy, originality, and wonder.
RESOURCE POOL
Build a library of
visual storytelling
Resource Pool helps you transform your learning into meaningful shadow puppet films and reusable classroom resources. These creations offer students a rare visual delight, evocative, uncluttered, and spacious enough for imagination to participate. In a world saturated with overstimulating content, this becomes a more thoughtful, artistic, and engaging way to bring stories, concepts, and ideas alive for learning.
EXPLORE
Open the world of shadow puppetry to young minds
Explore takes the journey into the classroom, where students begin to engage with shadow puppetry as makers, thinkers, and storytellers. From shaping concepts and designing puppets to refining controls, fine motor skills, visualisation, storytelling, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, the process activates multiple faculties together. What begins as artistic exploration soon becomes a rich pathway into expression, invention, and integrated learning.
FROM WORKSHOP TABLES TO MOVING STORIES
These videos offer a glimpse into one of our Chaya Ki Maya workshops at Craft Village, where design students and some members from the team of UFAAN immersed themselves in the art of shadow puppetry and brought forth these compelling creations.