Jaisalmer is among the few places in India that are keeping this ancient art form alive. Not only are adults attracted to this ancient art form, but also children from different age groups.
Jaisalmer, the Golden City, is famous for its sprawling fort, palaces, mysterious garden with centuries-old trees, and an ancient art form that attracts tourists from all over the globe.
Jaisalmer Museum has been conducting this ancient art form twice daily. From senior citizens to children to foreign tourists, people are pulled towards this art form like lifeless dolls pulled by strings.
Puppetry is one of the oldest art forms in India that has attracted an audience for centuries. Jaisalmer Museum brings the puppets to life twice daily. From humans to mythical figures to animals, these lifeless objects are attached to strings that are pulled by puppet masters.
An article published on Village Square mentions the following:
“‘Even the puppets speak if listened to carefully,” explained Nandkishore Sharma, now 87, and the founder and custodian of the museum.
For the puppeteers – those pulling the strings – the puppets are their medium of expression and the source of earning their livelihood.
Puppetry has had a long history in the region. Old timers such as Sharma say that people in yesteryears would travel far and wide to show their skill. Post-independence, they came to Jaisalmer.
“My ancestors came to Jaisalmer and got a corner for puppet shows in the famous Jaisalmer Fort,” pointed out 33-year-old Rakesh Ram Bhat, a puppeteer. “Some years later though, that corner was gone. We were forced to the streets,’ he added.”
Bali Ram Bhagat, the Governor General of Rajasthan in 1993, requested the state government to provide Sharma with land to build a museum. In 1997, KR Narayanan, the Vice President of India, inaugurated the Desert Culture Centre and Museum.
While it is true a lot is being done to keep the ancient art form alive, puppetry faces stiff competition.
The Village Square article reads:
“According to Sharma, the museum serves as a cradle for keeping puppetry alive in the country. ‘It is a vehicle for preserving traditions, folklore, and art,’ he said.
‘Puppetry is a clean entertainment filled with virtuous values and it comes with education and awareness,’ he added.
But puppetry is up against stiff odds with other forms of entertainment edging it out of people’s priorities in present times. ‘Our puppets are losing their voice when it comes to confronting current challenges,’ lamented Rakesh Ram.”
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