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Get ready to laugh, clap & cheer! Welcome to the 22nd edition of the Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival. The stage is set once again for a magical journey across cultures - where strings, hands, shadows & imagination unite to create unforgettable memories. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of puppetry or discovering it for the first time - Ishara invites you to experience a unique celebration of talent, storytelling & tradition. Each show is your window into another world, with our puppets flying in from every corner of the globe! Blending centuries-old traditions with modern innovation, audiences will be treated to breath-taking performances from Korea, Bhutan, Italy, Brazil, Turkey, Albania, alongside India’s own master puppeteers. So save the dates on your calendar right now! One of the most anticipated festivals in the country, from the 13th to the 22nd February 2026 – the festival will be held in Delhi & Chandigarh. The Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival was founded in 2001 by award winning puppeteer Dadi D. Pudumjee. Since then it has matured into a living museum of storytelling! To date over 100+ puppeteers, artists & performers from India & across the globe have used the festival as a stage to perform, preserving heritage for future generations. Produced by Teamwork Art, thousands of visitors support & visit the festival each year. The Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival is largely supported by the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust. Corporate houses, organisations, media entities & individual donors are welcome to partner & help promote this festival & art form. Donations made to the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust qualify for exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. For further information write to: dadipud@gmail.com |
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The Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival 2026 |
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DOONG DOONG ALERT
Date - 13th February 2026
Children often struggle to name or understand their anxious feelings & this colourful interactive show addresses that. Eoduksini is a legendary shadowy monster from Korean folklore & he’s reinterpreted from a modern perspective through objects & shadow puppetry. Our little hero Jiho lives with his grandfather. One day he observes strange floating beings called Doong Doong everywhere & sets out on an adventure to discover their true purpose. Blending traditional Korean storytelling with psychology - audiences learn how to confront & deal with anxiety in a calm & imaginative way.
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VARIATIONS
Date - 14th February 2026 Proto is no ordinary puppet - he’s born right on the stage, popping out of the hands of the ManipulActors! Proto wiggles, dances & shows us that he’s alive. He knows he’s connected to his puppeteers through his strings, but that doesn’t stop him from exploring everything with curiosity. Adding more sparkle to Proto’s adventures is singer Rhoda Lopez, whose live songs fill the stage with emotion! It’s a performance packed with laughter, surprises & a magical message that audiences will carry with them: that every person has a story worth telling. |
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ALBANIAN WEDDING
Date - 15th February 2026 A celebration of centuries of tradition - this show intertwines the Red Riding Hood tale with the royal wedding of Princess Donika, Albania’s legendary heroine. Red Riding Hood & Grandma are on the way for the wedding, but a wolf tries to eat Grandma! At the castle a wicked witch has put the princess in a magical sleep. Only a brave boy can break the spell & awaken her. Filled with traditional dances, foot tapping music & colourful puppets in Albanian costumes - it’s a heart stopping musical performance for all ages. |
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AM I LOST?
Date - 16th February 2026 'Am I Lost?' follows the journey of Safar, a 10-year-old boy from a small village in Jharkhand, who runs away to Delhi dreaming of chocolates, toys, and city life. But the big city is far from kind. Safar is soon trapped in bonded labour on a farm for three long years. When he escapes, hungry and hopeless, a stranger’s question—“Do you want to study?” changes his life. Rescued and placed in a shelter for many others like him, Safar finally feels safe again. Here, he discovers his passion for storytelling. As he grows, he finds his way back to his home village, and finds his home a crumbling husk. |
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THE RAINBOW FISH
Date - 17th February 2026 This enchanting adaptation brings to life the timeless tale by Marcus Pfister that has captivated millions across the globe. Get ready to dive into the shimmering underwater world of the most beautiful fish in the ocean - The Rainbow Fish. Through an array of dazzling puppets, playful choreography, foot tapping music & colourful sets that recreate a magical underwater setting - it’s a celebration of humanity’s most important values. |
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SANGAY SIDDHARTHA
Date - 18th February 2026 Seamlessly weaving the timeless Jataka Tales into the present day, this unique show balances tradition & technology. Ap Daupey - a Manipa & traditional storyteller - passes on his enchanted story box to his son Sangay Siddhartha. Obsessed with AI & technology, Sangay doesn’t believe in the box filled with spirits & wisdom. Tiu Jangchu Sempa - the monkey god & guardian of stories - gets angry & makes Sangay experience the Jataka Tales himself. Exquisite puppetry & soulful music complement each tale. |
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DREAMLOOM
Date - 19th February 2026 This unique performance redefines puppetry by transforming discarded ordinary materials into living & breathing things. Crafted from newspapers, bottles & fabric, puppeteers construct surreal dreamscapes populated by colourful creatures both familiar & strange. Through movement & its evocative images, this show reminds us that that beauty can emerge from anything, offering audiences a thought provoking exploration of what it is to be alive. |
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JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Date - 20th February 2026 A classic fairy tale gets a fun Indian twist in this musical puppet play about family, imagination, and magic. The story begins when little Mithoo loses her ball and asks her Dadaji for help. He tells her a story from his childhood—about Jack, his cow Gauri, and magical beans that grow into a giant beanstalk. Filled with songs, humour, and colourful puppets, the play shows how stories connect generations. |
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THE ROCK
Date - 21st February 2026 An imaginative retelling of the much loved children’s tale, packed with laughter, surprises & a very important life lesson! A giant rock tumbles onto a busy road & blocks everyone’s way. Meet a parade of funny & colourful puppets trying to move it. Finally a small child shows up & moves it. He shows the audience that sometimes the simplest solutions are the most magical of all. |
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AMRITA SHER-GIL: A LIFE LIVED
Date - 22nd February 2026 Through vibrant puppetry, classical music & emotional storytelling: Ishara showcases the extraordinary life of Amrita Sher-Gil. Five art college students discover an icon of creativity, courage & cultural pride. This multicultural artist challenged all conventions in her short lifetime of 28 yrs. The performance will inspire youth & adults to embrace one’s inner imagination & carry forward Amrita’s legacy of artistic freedom. |
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