Sirdhar Singh, a burly man in his 60s, fetches his briefcase and unwinds the string around it that locks the broken and dusty case, before, one by one, pulling out his colourful and neatly kept glove puppets.
His cousin Kedar Singh, 55, soon joins the lead puppeteer, strapping a traditional drum around his shoulders before a small crowd of jubilant villagers eager to watch the dying art from India’s eastern Odisha state.
The two artists sit on a muddy floor outside their home. Sirdhar Singh quickly puts his fingers in the gloves to make the puppets dance to the drumbeat, which is accompanied by both men singing a high-pitched folk song for the crowd.
“It feels wonderful when people clap for us. We want more people to watch our talent,” Mr Singh told The National.
The impromptu show lasts about 15 minutes and ends with a round of applause.
The Singhs were elated with the reception. It had been a while since they had displayed their talent, they said.
“I used to sing, and dance. People used to say good things about me. They’d ask us to perform for them, but not any more. It is painful,” he said.
The two men are from a nondescript village in India’s eastern state of Odisha. There are only seven artists still practising the state’s century-old puppetry form – sakhi kandhei – a dying art where three-piece wooden puppets are worn as a glove.
The dolls' faces are painted with natural dyes, in bright coloured blue, green, and yellow. Their eyes are big and expressive, and they are dressed in handmade elaborate headgear and long, flowing costumes.
“They are made of deciduous wood. Some specific carpenters make it and then artists paint it. Specific colours are used for specific characters. Ffor example, the yellow face is for Radha and blue is for Krishna,” Sirdhar Singh said.
They depict kings, queens, and other characters in folk tales and mythology and, according to the story, are transformed into the Hindu deity Krishna, and the Hindu goddess Radha, a symbol of love, across India.
Old traditions
Sakhi kandhei was once a popular and in-demand art performed for entertainment, especially for children in villages. The puppets told stories of religious beliefs, rural cultures, mythology and history.
“This is an age-old art. My father performed it, my grandfather and other men were puppeteers. We learnt it from them. The government used to organise programmes for us. We performed in villages and got rice and money in return. This is how we made a living, Sirdhar Singh said.
People from the communities of snake charmers, magicians, and trapeze artists were also engaged in the art form.
A family tradition that was passed down the generations performed it to make a living.
“The artists travelled from village to village and towns and cities and even different states for the puppet shows and earned money and food in return, Mr Singh said.
But as the popularity of television grew in the early 1980s, the art of the puppeteer declined considerably.
It suffered further after the introduction of modern technology such as computers, video games, and now mobile phones and social media, Mr Singh said.
The artists hardly perform shows any more and the fading of the profession means that even their children are refusing to continue the tradition.
“With mobiles, film and dance shows, no one recognises it any more. No one wants to watch it any more.
“Now only seven [puppeteers] are left. If we seven die, this art will die with us. No young children want to learn it. My children said they do not want to roam around like me, for money,” Mr Singh said.
The artists, who for decades have received love and respect for their talent are disheartened with the demise of puppetry. They are hoping, however, for more shows, not just to keep puppetry alive but also to generate a permanent income for them.
They say the government could do more to help them.
“If the government helps us, we can train young children. If the puppet shows don’t take place, then this art form will die. We need their support to survive and keep sakhi kandhei alive,” Kedar Singh said.
The National was not able to get a comment from local officials.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20Profile
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Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
