Moving with such precision and grace, one can almost mistake them for actual human beings. They are even replicated to look like us, from the tip of the head right down to the toes. Yes, these are puppets. And not just any marionette. These guys once entertained royalty and took a lot of skill and precision from the individuals manipulating the figures to bring them to life.

This is no ordinary puppet show. No no. The tradition traces its roots back to the 11^th century and thrived three hundred years or so later. And the popularity surged right into the royal courts. Kings at the time forbade human dancers to perform on stage, which obviously gave a boost to the country’s puppet theater industry. And did the royal court love it! It became a hit and was deemed one of the royalty’s favorite entertainment performances.

Most marionette shows consists of 28 central characters. Why 28? The number depicts the physical forms present in traditional Buddhist text. The four primary elements of fire, water, earth and air are already four, the rest are derived matters ranging from the human eye to physical aging. All these are represented by characters we can relate to, such as a dragon, a prince, a garuda (a bird-like god creature), and so forth.

Even today, the puppets and the stage are built in strictly traditional means. Carvers adhere to a stringent set of codes regarding the types of wood, designs of the puppets, their colors and even the type strings used. The stage also uses a select type of bamboo and thatch. All these must pass the standard procedures set centuries ago in order to pass for performances.

The actual stage setup consists of a bamboo bar for the puppeteer to stand on and work their magic. It is then overhung with a white cloth which hides the puppet masters and provides the backdrop for the play. Unlike most other marionette shows, curtains are not used. Instead a shift in music and a change of stage props depict the scene change.

A Burmese marionette show today is an integral part of the country’s heritage and culture. Plus, it is also quite entertaining. You can watch one of these shows when you are in Bagan in Exotissimo’s Family Holiday in Myanmar tour. Are you impressed, like the royals and Kings centuries before?

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