LAHORE: The opening of the 11th National Puppetry Festival at Rafi Peer Cultural Complex on Thursday was all about fun and frolic.

The festival has been organised by Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop in collaboration with Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Twenty or so performers clad in glittering attires and stuffed in artificial wooden horses and camels danced feverishly at the opening ceremony. Among the audience were schoolchildren who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the electrifying atmosphere at the festival featuring dances, mascot parade, magic show, music and food.

Children were excitedly clapping as they were transported to fantasy world of horses and camels.

Life-size puppets representing different regions of the country placed around the complex had an impact of their own. The young ones took special interest in face painting and puppet games.

A portrait of puppetry festival founder Faizan Pirzada displayed on a banner was a tribute to his efforts towards establishing an international museum of puppetry in Lahore.

Saadan Pirzada and Usman Pirzada inaugurated the festival by leaving balloons in the air.

Usman Pirzada told Dawn that the festival was part of the efforts to revive the art of puppetry in the country. "We are happy that the festival has entered in its 11th year and many puppeteers have got exposure of the folk tradition of puppetry all these years," he said.

He said there was no international participation in the festival this year.

Krishan Lal Bheel, a folk singer from Cholistan, enthralled the audience at the ceremony. Bheel and his team gave a lively performance. Besides, there were five other performances -- a puppet show by Rafi Peer Cultural Complex, folk puppets, magic show, a performance by Alhmara Puppet Theatre and dancing horse mascot parade -- at the specially-designed stage.

Punjabi film songs sung and played by folk puppeteers added to the zing.