The festival also supports the development of marionette troupes around Myanmar through information exchanges with international puppeteers, said U Kyaw Myo Ko, managing director of Myanmar Upper Land.
He added that the festival is a part of the Myanmar Marionette Development Programme, which is primarily funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. He said there are plans to hold a similar event in Yangon concurrently with the Mandalay event.
Marionette troupes from Myanmar, Germany and Indonesia will take part in the event, with the organisers planning to invite marionette troupes from other ASEAN countries.