GUWAHATI, April 22 - The 17-day workshop on puppetry organised by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Guwahati, concluded here on Thursday.
Titled �Role of Puppetry in Education,� the workshop started on April 5. Traditional artistes from different parts of the country were invited to acquaint teachers with regional and traditional forms of puppetry.
Lectures and demonstrations on the traditional puppet theatre of India were organised for the participants to introduce the different styles of puppet theatre in the country.
A series of lectures, demonstrations and practical classes were held at the Teaching Hall of the CCRT, Regional Centre, Guwahati, during the course of the workshop, which was attended by participants from different age groups.
The CCRT provides comprehensive and integrated training in the preparation and production of such puppet programmes, to be imparted in both formal and non-formal teaching situations. One key objective of the workshop was to teach preparation and manipulation of gloves, shadows, rods, strings and other puppets out of low-cost materials for ready use in classroom situations, a press release stated.
Introductory lecture sessions on the concept of puppets and script writing were also a part of the workshop.
A puppet show by the participants was also staged on the concluding day. The theme of the show was Swachh Bharat. The group mime act on Gandhian principles and secularism was another attractive show on the concluding day, the release added.
Ranjit Gogoi, noted folk artiste, gave an elaborate demonstration on the festival of Bihu and its varied elements.
Puppet show is a part of the North Eastern culture which has become almost extinct at present, but efforts are being made to revive it, the release stated.
