Puppetry workshop in Ludhiana - an initiative to revive the folk art

Rajasthans Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal recently organised a puppetry workshop in Ludhiana to preserve puppet art in India.

By Karan Kapoor

Ludhiana, June 27 : Rajasthan's Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal recently organised a puppetry workshop in Ludhiana to preserve puppet art in India.

Kathputlis or puppets are a common and popular form of entertainment in rural India. Unfortunately, the folk art is now almost dying and to preserve the art, Lok Kala Mandal is trying to encourage puppetry. Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam, an organisation promoting the performing arts, invited the members of Lok Kala Mandal to help children know all about puppets.

Sham Bali, assistant director of Lok Kala Mandal, who learnt the art of puppetry from Japan, has been spreading it in different countries along with Indian puppetry forms.

"Puppetry in itself is a giant art that consist drama, painting and music. In villages, puppetry has been a great medium to disseminate thoughts," Bali said.

Bali, however, blames television and computers for causing the folk art to disappear from cities.

"We should maintain our culture as puppetry no more exists in Punjab. And the young generation should learn this art," Bali added.

Even today puppetry show by professionals and learners together leaves spectators spellbound.

"Even small children have the craze for puppets because it makes them laugh. Anything which a person can think, a puppet can speak all," Seema, spectator of puppetry art said.

The puppet is the essence of its creator's idea. Its character lies in its grotesque imitations of reality without which it would be of little use. This sharp reality that the figures transmit attracts the viewer to the small and fragile figure.

ANI