Sunday, February 20, 2011

Giant Puppet Parade!

Last night, we watched the Giant Puppet Parade.  This was our second year of witnessing it, and it was as much fun as ever!  The large puppets are lighted on the inside, giving them an almost eerie quality.

Click on this link for info.  http://www.facebook.com/giantpuppetproject?v=wall#!/giantpuppetproject?v=info  In their own words, they describe this as  "A local childrens community arts project, the largest of its kind in Siem Reap. Providing a creative platform for disadvantaged children to foster and promote expression and self confidence through art.  The Giant Puppet Project relies solely on kind donations and sponsorship to make this an annual event." 

We went armed with lots of small bills to add to the collection pots.  I think I recognized some of the same giant puppets from last year, so I'm not sure if they make the same ones each year or save them from the year before.  All the children make all their own hats and decorations.

I managed to get some pictures, despite the hoards of people who kept stepping in front of my camera.  They probably don't show the parade as well as I remember it, but hopefully, you will get an idea of the enormity of these puppets, and the enthusiasm of the crowd.  After the parade, I noticed one man standing on one of the tables at our restaurant.  I'm guessing the owners weren't too delighted about that, but I bet his pics are better than mine.   

The parade is coming!

Music and dancers at the head of the parade

Blurry, but it gives you an idea of the size of these puppets.
They all have moving parts, and are lighted from the inside 

Close-up details

These are all kids from different NGO's participating in the parade
Adult volunteers collect donations and try to keep the kids together

The puppets are very large. 
Their moving parts are controlled by long bamboo poles

Naga, a 5-headed mythological snake

He's really long......carried by lots of people

Ibis, I think

See how big it is!

Smaller birds 'flying' on bamboo poles

I want a hat like this!

A truck made into a float, with a giant rabbit coming up behind

His ears go up and down, and so do his arms

Ears up!

A giant spider!

A truck with lovely decorations

Kids leading the way for another puppet

Intricate decorations on this one

A car!

Th-th-thats all folks!

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