Explain with reasons: It is necessary to preserve the tradition like Chitrakathi, which is on the verge of extinction.

Reason: Chitrakathi is a very old folk art of Maharashtra and an important part of our cultural heritage.

• Chitrakathi or Pinguli is the tradition of narrating stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata with the help of wooden puppets and paintings.
• It is mentioned in 'Manasollas' written by the Chalukya king Someshvara in the 12th century C.E., which shows how old the tradition is.
• The pictures are drawn on paper and painted with natural colours. A single story needs 30–50 pictures, which are preserved carefully and handed down from generation to generation.
• Very few families now practise this art, so it is on the verge of extinction.
• If it is lost, an important part of our intangible heritage will be lost forever. So the artists and the government are trying to preserve it.