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Indian, Iranian puppeteers honored at Mobarak festival

Indian puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee (2nd L) receives an award from the Zoroastrian priest Mehraban Firoozgari for his lifetime achievements during the 16th Mobarak International Puppet Theater Festival at Tehran’s City Theater Complex on August 28, 2016. Festival secretary Marzieh Borumand (R) and actor Atila Pesyani (L) are also seen in the photo. (Mehr/Mahmud Rahimi)
Indian puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee (2nd L) receives an award from the Zoroastrian priest Mehraban Firoozgari for his lifetime achievements during the 16th Mobarak International Puppet Theater Festival at Tehran’s City Theater Complex on August 28, 2016. Festival secretary Marzieh Borumand (R) and actor Atila Pesyani (L) are also seen in the photo. (Mehr/Mahmud Rahimi)

The ceremony took place at Tehran’s City Theater Complex, while members of the Iranian artists’ world paid tribute to actor Davud Rashidi, who died of heart failure on Friday.

Dadi Pudumjee, who is currently the President of (Union Internationale de la Marionette) UNIMA International’s Social Justice Commission, was called on stage to receive his award from actor Atila Pesyani and the Zoroastrian priest Mehraban Firoozgari.

The Indian puppeteer asked the audience to stand up and observe a moment of silence in memory of Davud Rashidi.

The honorary diploma and plaque of honor was handed to the Indian puppeteer by Mehraban Firoozgari, who had recited the words of the play Pudumjee had staged in India about the customs of the Zoroastrians.

Gharibpur was next called on stage to receive his honorary plaque.

He expressed his thanks to Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Ali Moradkhani and Tehran City Council member Ahmad Masjed-Jamei who have helped revive puppet shows.

The ceremony was followed by performances of several puppet shows.

Secretary of the festival Marzieh Borumand also referred to the festival as an event that brought color to the city and removed all the dust and dirt.

The festival, which ran from August 22 to 28, played host to 27 Iranian plays and seven plays from different countries.

Published on TehranTimes