A delight for the kids

PUPPET MAGIC

Little ones queued up and restlessly waited to enter the amphitheatre at India Habitat Centre to witness, the puppet show ‘Bozak-e-Chini’ which was staged as part of the ‘Ishara International Puppet Festival 2012’.

While the stage was being set up, kids were kept occupied by the dance of a huge mustachioed red-coloured puppet. Other than this, a shadow puppet show by professionals from Andhra Pradesh also kept them entertained.

The wait was finally over for kids as they made a beeline for this puppet show that narrated the ancient tale of ‘Bozak-e-Chini’ (the goat and the wolf) which is based on a day in the life of a goat named Bozak-e-Chini and her three cubs who are tricked by a wolf. The brave mother goat takes on the villains, before the king of all animals, the lion, delivers a wise verdict. Hand puppets of goat, wolf, mouse and crow, a house that folds and unfolds like an umbrella and other aids which narrate the tale, filled the amphitheatre with the magical spirit.

Five-year-old Seher Nityanand says, “The show was very good,” while her mother Kavita Nityanand says, “Not just children but all of us enjoyed the show. We come here every year to experience the art of puppetry from various cultures. It is such a fantastic cultural exposure for all.”

Another regular attendee, Shubhi Singhvi who came with her daughter Samviti says, “The festival has improved a lot in terms of participation. It is because of them that a lot of Indian puppeteers are also known now but there is still a lot of scope for improvement.”

Gibon Csonka, a journalist from Hungary seconds Shubhi, “I liked the show but wished it was longer.

 Dadi Pudumjee, founder of Ishara Puppet Theatre says, “On our 10th anniversary we have come up with 10 shows from 10 different countries and each has a different style. While the ‘Bozak-e-Chini’ show by Parwaz Puppet Theatre from Afghanistan is simple yet charming. ‘The Paper Cut’ by Yael Rasooly from Israel is a visual spectacle too.”

Explaining about the traditional art of puppetry in India, Sanjoy Roy, member of Ishara Puppet Theatre says, “India is full of tradition. Almost every state has an art of puppetry which is alive but has to be made popular.” Talking about the contemporary art of puppetry, he says, “We have also come up with programmes on HIV awareness using puppetry as a medium of communication.”

Founded in 1986, Ishara Puppet Theatre is committed to creating awareness, exposure and education to the multifaceted traditions and techniques of puppetry in India and the world. Every year they bring together the only annual international puppet festival in the country.