New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS): India is to host the 12th Ishara International Puppet Festival which begins Feb 24. Artists from six other countries will showcase their talents in the country's four major cities, including Delhi.

The festival, to be held from Feb 24 to March 4, has myriad global performances in modern and traditional forms -- ranging from rod, string and shadow puppets to musical, dance and theatrical performances.

Produced by Team Arts, the festival intends to brings together diverse traditional and contemporary forms of puppetry from across the world under one roof.

"Modern day entertainment options like television, movies and the internet are fast displacing such traditional art forms," said organiser Dadi Pudumjee.

"IIPF would provide the required boost to puppetry and help aware people, especially the younger generation, about this dying art," Pudumjee said.

Apart from India, this year's festival also brings acts from countries including Britain, Spain, Bulgaria, Israel, Ireland and Azerbaijan.

The performances would be held at the Indian Habitat Centre, Delhi, Epicenter in Gurgaon, Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh and Step by Step school in Jaipur.