World Puppetry Day 2022: Know all about the ancient art
World Puppetry Day is celebrated every year on March 21 to pay tribute to the puppet artists around the world and make people aware of the art of puppetry. The day was recognized in 2002 by the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) with the aim to conserve the traditional art form and promote it. The first celebration was witnessed on March 21, 2003.
History of the day
In India, the art of puppetry is believed to have originated during the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Archaeologists discovered a terracotta doll with a detachable head attached to a string. Evidence unearthed during excavation also suggests the presence of puppetry in 2000 BC Egypt. Later, in 2000, Iranian puppet theater artist Javad Zolfaghari proposed the idea of World Puppetry Day to the UNIMA.
Significance of World Puppetry Day
The traditional form of puppetry aims to break all language and cultural boundaries as you enjoy the movements and performances on stage, irrespective of whether you understand the language or not. It makes people aware of the dying form of art. It also makes them happy as they revisit their childhood, a time when they played with dolls and even assigned them characters.
How to celebrate the day?
One of the best ways to celebrate World Puppetry Day is to visit a puppet show and enjoy the traditional art form. You can also engage your children to make some puppets, invite over their friends and then host their own puppet show. Gain some knowledge about the art form and watch some puppet-related shows and films like Sesame Street, The Muppets, and Alf.
Some more facts
At the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of puppet animation increased. Aleksandr Shiryaev, the ballet master of Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theater, is credited with creating the first puppet animation film. Some famous puppets include Pinocchio, Howdy Doody, Daniel Striped Tiger, Lamb Chop, and Elmo. However, Kermit is one of the most well-known puppets who has appeared on various iconic television shows.
