International Archives Week with Puppetry Exhibition and Kathputli Performances at IGNCA
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), through its Cultural Archives division, is marking International Archives Week 2026 with a special programme that explores the connection between archives, performance traditions, and India’s living cultural heritage. The celebration brings together a curated puppet exhibition and live performances, highlighting the role of traditional arts in preserving collective memory and cultural knowledge.
A major attraction of the programme is a Puppet Exhibition drawn from the collections of the Cultural Archives at IGNCA. The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to explore the diversity, craftsmanship, and storytelling traditions associated with puppetry across India. Showcasing archival material and traditional puppets, it reflects how performance arts continue to serve as important carriers of history, folklore, and community identity.
Complementing the exhibition are live performances of Amar Singh Rathore, one of the most celebrated narratives in Rajasthan’s Kathputli tradition. Presented by renowned puppeteer Puran Chand Bhatt, the performance brings to life the legendary tale through music, narration, and the distinctive artistry of traditional string puppets. The show offers audiences a chance to experience one of India’s oldest storytelling traditions in its authentic form.
Through this combination of archival display and live performance, IGNCA’s International Archives Week programme highlights the importance of preserving not only documents and objects, but also the living traditions that continue to shape India’s cultural landscape.
Event Details
Event: International Archives Week 2026 – Archives, Performance & Traditional Arts
Organised By: Cultural Archives, IGNCA
Puppet Exhibition
Dates: 8–12 June 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Venue: Darshanam 4, Ground Floor, IGNCA, New Delhi
Puppet Performance: Amar Singh Rathore
Presented By: Puran Chand Bhatt
Dates: 8 & 9 June 2026
Time: 5:00 PM onwards
Venue: Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi
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