Telugu words around *bomma* refer to figures or dolls, but the named practices differ. Butta Bommalu uses large colourful figure costumes in public folk display. Bommala Koluvu is a festive arrangement of dolls, commonly associated with domestic and community display; an Annamayya district page describes local wooden dolls used for such arrangements. Tholu Bommalata is shadow-puppet theatre: articulated leather figures are manipulated against a lit screen to tell stories. Sri Sathya Sai district tourism lists the shadow-puppet tradition among regional attractions.

For image identification, ask what the figure is doing. A wearable giant figure in a procession, arranged dolls on steps and a backlit silhouette on a screen are different visual evidence. A toy-maker may supply dolls, but that does not make a home display the same as the artisan's workshop. The screen and light are decisive for shadow puppetry. Older encyclopaedic descriptions may link several districts to each form; avoid assigning an exclusive home district when the question only asks for the medium.

Worked example: Butta Bommalu, Bommala Koluvu and Tholu Bommalata share the word for doll or figure but refer to different display and performance situations. One involves large wearable figures, another a display arrangement, and another shadow puppetry. Create a three-column visual card: material or body, method of presentation and audience view. Similar names are a deliberate MCQ trap.

Active recall: Match wearable figure, arranged display and backlit puppet with the three forms. What physical object distinguishes Tholu Bommalata?

Three different bomma traditions

Wearable figure, doll display and shadow screen are separate clues.

Read this visual

Figures and puppets can be worn, displayed or projected as shadows. Sort the method of presentation before matching a Telugu name.

Current district geometry: APSDMA. Cultural and GI details: credited public-body and registry sources.