Ancient arts must be preserved for future generations: vedakumar

Inauguration of hand, shadow puppetry workshop
Hyderabad, March 10
The Deccan Heritage Academy Trust Chairman, Manikonda Vedakumar, has stressed the need to preserve ancient arts and pass them on to future generations. In line with this, a Hand and Shadow Puppetry Workshop was inaugurated on Friday, jointly organized by the Deccan Heritage Academy Trust, Spirit Theatre, Steppark, and Oxford Grammar High School.

During the inauguration, Vedakumar highlighted that puppetry is one of the oldest art forms in the world, capable of creating dialogue based on the movements of eight figures simultaneously. He further emphasized that if puppetry is used to teach lessons in the form of stories, it can significantly help children understand the lessons and build self-confidence.

Telugu University Registrar, Bhattu Ramesh, added that there were once a thousand ancient arts in the country, but their numbers are rapidly decreasing. He also emphasized the importance of promoting and preserving ancient arts.

As part of the week-long program, Dutch puppetry artist Frans Heckemers, who has over 40 years of experience, impressed students with his puppetry skills. Heckemers is currently conducting a workshop in Hyderabad to explain the unique art of puppetry. Additionally, Mote Jagannath, a puppet artist from Ammapuram in Janagon district, His family has been preserving the existence of Koya puppetry for 200 years, was honored during the event.

The program also featured Kendra Sangeeta Nataka Akademi awardees, renowned artists Mangalabhat and Raghavraj Bhatt, Oxford Grammar School Vice Chairman Pratharna, Correspondent K Prabhakar, Sporthi art Theater Founder Director Padmini, Headmaster Ramanjula, Fahmida Shameen, Fatima Kazim of Oxford Grammar School, and students from J Baskar Rao College of Architecture.

The Deccan Heritage Academy Trust hopes that events like this will help preserve ancient art forms and pass them on to future generations.