6th India Puppetry Fest Putul Yatra inaugurated

Dimapur, April 23 (MExN): The Governor of Assam, Janaki Ballav Patnaik today inaugurated the 6th India Puppetry Festival, PUTUL YATRA at Ranghar Bakori Manch, Srimata Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. The inaugural function was also graced by the presence of Smt. Shanta Serbjit Singh, Vice Chairman Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Inaugurating the puppetry festival, Janaki Ballav Patnaik, the Governor of Assam said that puppet theatre could be used as a major mass communication tool for propagating literacy, health programme and piping social evils like witchcraft.
“Puppet theatre can be profitably used for mass literacy and primary health campaigns. It can be used against various superstitious practices like witch craft and animal sacrifices. It can create awareness against AIDS,” Patnaik said. Describing India as a home to puppetry, he said it was from India that puppetry had spread to different countries of South East Asia. “India is a home to puppetry. In ancient times, Indian puppetry, particularly, Shadow puppetry has travelled all over the South East Asia such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, which are now known by different names in different countries”.
Patnaik also called for redefining puppetry to make it relevant to modern times. In this context he urged the governments as well as Sangeet Natak Akademi to take steps to promote puppetry.
The nine day festival is being organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi, National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama, New Delhi in association with Srimata Shankaradeva  Kalakshetra and Cultural Affairs Department, Govt of Assam . The festival will remain open till April 30.
The inaugural programme began with a special combined presentation by puppeteers of India followed by Aladin, a contemporary Puppetry Production of Calcutta Puppet Theatre, directed by Suresh Dutta.
Some of the well known celebrities of Indian Puppetry who are attending this festival include Dadi Pudumjee from Delhi, Suresh Dutta from Kolkata, Puran Bhatt from Rajasthan and Anurupa Roy from Delhi. Altogether 47 puppetry troupes of the country are taking part in this 9 days festival. These include troupes from states like Maharashtra, Gujrat, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, UP, Delhi, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The details of the programme may be seen at www.sangeetnatak.gov.in. For details contact: Sasanka Gupta Kashyap(98640-71544) and Uday Sahay (09811418283).
This has been informed here in a pres note received today.



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