Patna, Oct. 20: Kilkari, a unit of state human resource development department, organised a workshop on string puppets (kathputlis) on Agrasen Bhavan premises today.

The workshop was attended by children of various schools such as Rajakiya Balika Uccha Vidyalaya, Rajakiya Maddhya Vidyalaya, Narayani Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya and other schools. Forty children had attended the puppet show. The workshop will continue for 10 days.

Well-known puppetry master Billo Ram Bhatt and his team have come all the way from Rajasthan to teach the school children about puppetry. The students would also be taught the art of performing and making the puppets. The workshop began with a traditional Rajasthan folk puppetry performance depicting the story of emperor Akbar and Salim.

Billo Ram Bhatt said: “Puppetry is an ancient and popular form of folk entertainment. Our community has been performing puppetry for hundreds of years and we go from village to village to present popular stories of heroes and divine figures. It has helped us carve a niche in the mind of the masses and keep our tradition alive.”

He further added that puppetry is not so popular in Bihar but the initiative taken by Kilkari will soon make people aware about the art of puppetry.

Bhatt also described the meaning of puppet and said: “Kathputli comes from kaath which means wood and putli which means doll. Kathputlis wear brightly coloured costumes which are fashioned by the puppeteers themselves from scraps of cloth.”

While inaugurating the workshop well-known writer Ushakiran Khan said: “This workshop will help the present and future generation to understand our culture and tradition. Puppeteering is a great art and art in any field is always useful.”

Chief guest Shashi, a well-known radio jockey (RJ) spoke to the children and encouraged them to take part in various forms of art.

He said: “Every child possesses some unique talent which would help them to create their own identity and make them stand out from others.”

Shefali Kumari, a Class VIII student of Narayani Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya, said: “This is the first time I have seen a puppet performance, I have seen it on TV before but watching it in front of your eyes is a different experience altogether.”

She further said: “How can they make the puppets dance with the help of strings in which every movement is as real as a human movement?”

Jyoti Parihar, the director of Kilkari, said: “The workshop will focus on teaching kids the different skills in creating numerous types of puppets. Children will be trained for educational and entertainment projects which is not so popular in Bihar. This workshop will also create economic opportunities for the children by providing them with the concepts and the skills of puppetry. It will encourage them to use these puppets as a means to play and communicate with other children.”