Bhubaneswar: The National Puppet Theatre Festival, organised by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi with the support of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, concluded at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar Friday.
The valedictory ceremony was attended by Odisha’s Minister for Culture, Suryabanshi Suraj as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, the minister said puppet theatre revives childhood memories while serving as a powerful medium to communicate social messages.
“Puppet theatre is an innovative creative form that brings puppets to life on stage and conveys meaningful social messages through performance.
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Our folk arts are our true identity,” Suraj said.
He congratulated and extended his best wishes to all artists from Odisha and other states who participated in the festival, and praised the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi for its timely and meaningful initiative to popularise puppet theatre among the younger generation.
Suraj also watched the performances and felicitated all participating artists during the programme.
The two-day festival was held from December 18 to 19 at Bhanja Kala Mandap.
A total of eight puppet theatre troupes from Odisha and five troupes from Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan and West Bengal took part in the event, showcasing the rich diversity of India’s traditional and contemporary puppet forms.
During the concluding ceremony, Dolls Theatre, Kandhei Ghar presented contemporary puppet theatre, while the Jai Bharat Kandhei Kala Parishad staged string puppet performances.
Shadow theatre presentations were performed by Ravana Chhaya Natya Sansad and Tholpavakoothu troupes from Kerala.
Renowned artist Puran Bhatt from Rajasthan enthralled the audience with a traditional Kathputli (puppet dance) performance.
Eminent artist Harihar Mahapatra, Secretary of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, and Secretary of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Dr. Chandra Shekhar Hota, among others, were present on the occasion.
The festival concluded on a high note, celebrating India’s vibrant puppet theatre traditions while reinforcing their relevance in contemporary society.