Stringing stories

The Dhaatu International Puppet Festival, which showcases the traditional art of puppetry, will be held from January 1 to 4 in different parts of the City.

The three-day festival will feature shows from India and abroad. The performers will exhibit their rich culture and tradition with a scintillating display of shadow, string, rod and carnival puppets at JSS Auditorium, 8th Block, Jayanagar.

A workshop on the genesis and significance of puppetry which has evolved over the century will be deliberated by distinguished artists and scholars of national and international repute. Dhaatu will be showcasing a repository of ancient and mythological culture in innumerable forms of puppetry as it is manifested around the world.

The festival, only in its second edition, is already acclaimed internationally for its incredible effort in not only reviving this art form but popularising it on a wider scale. Inspired from the grand success of the first festival held last year, This year, Dhaatu has planned spectacular performances by puppet masters of traditional rod and shadow techniques by artistes from Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh besides reputed artists from Turkey, Egypt and Bulgaria.

This colourful extravaganza will unveil its prowess in using puppetry as a medium of entertainment and learning about the art. The popular puppet parade will begin from Dhaatu Bus Stop at KR Road on January 1, 3 pm and will be flagged off by the actor Ramesh Arvind.