REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia's Vice President Boediono asks people to conserve wayang, the traditional puppet theater, to save it from extinction. "Wayang needs special attention. Festival is one of conserving form which I support," Boediono said on Saturday at the opening of shadowgraph in Vice Presidential Palace.
At least 1,000 guests including the Minister of Finance Agus Martowardojo and Minister of Public Works Djoko Kirmanto attended the festival. Boediono said that he supported the Indonesian Puppetry United (PEPADI) to hold a festival to attract the youth.
The Chairman of PEPADI, Ekotjipto, said the festival was expected to attract children to love wayang so that one day some could be puppetry. "It is an effort to find the next generation of puppetry," Eko said.