Champua: Setting yet another example of preserving the dying traditional art forms of Odisha, Arjun Singh of a sleepy village under this block in Keonjhar district has taken a pledge to help ‘puppet dance’ (Kandhei Nacha in Odia) thrive following the untimely demise of his father Munibar Singh, a popular puppeteer of the region. Puppetry in Odisha has served as a medium of entertainment for the general public, not only in rural areas but also in urban setups. After the untimely demise of his father Munibar of Tiansi village, Arjun has kept his promise made to his father by embracing this traditional art form and using it as a source of livelihood for his family.
According to sources, after Munibar’s death, his son Arjun upheld the traditional art form and never let it lose popularity. Arjun has gained considerable experience by assisting his father in various puppet dance events, and eventually, he established himself as an ace puppeteer in the region. He has taken the responsibility of ‘Jai Jagannath Kandhei Dance Art Institute’, founded by his father. Arjun is leaving no stone unturned in the growth and popularity of puppet dance and he performs numerous puppet plays based on mythological stories like ‘Kala Kahnei’ and ‘Kansa Badha’, bringing wooden puppets to life. He portrays various characters through these puppets to entertain the audience, especially children and the elderly. Arjun maintained that the gradually disappearing puppet dance could further prosper if the government provided some further support. He also mentioned that the income generated from the puppet shows held in different locations is insufficient to meet the needs of the family as his family members also assist him in the profession.
So, his family has to depend on farming as well. While mythological stories serve as a medium of social change, creating awareness through traditional puppet dance about these stories is his ultimate goal.