‘Dhanu Yatra’ begins in Odisha’s Bargarh

Tags: Festivals State News

The ‘Dhanu Yatra’ festival, considered to be the world’s largest open-air theatre, began on 27th December in the Western Odisha town of Bargarh.

Important facts

• President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of the eastern state as the 11-day festival began. The festival began after a gap of two years.

• In this festival, events related to Lord Shri Krishna will be presented through folk arts that touch the hearts of millions of people.

About  ‘Dhanu Yatra’

• The 'Dhanu Yatra', which symbolises the victory of good over evil, came into being in Bargarh as part of the country's independence celebrations in 1947–48 and is held annually.

• 'Dhanu Yatra' is associated with the culture of Odisha.

• It is an open-air theatre festival which is spread over more than 5 square kilometres and includes a village and a town.

• As per tradition, for the whole eleven days, the people of Bargarh obey the orders of Raja Kansa and not the district administration.

Background of the festival

• Dhanu Yatra was started after the harvest season of the year 1947-48, just after the independence of India as a reflection of the atmosphere of joy in the society for the end of British misrule.

• Since then it is performed every year at the end of the harvesting of paddy, the main crop of the area.

• It starts from the 5th day of ‘Pousasukla’ to end on ‘Pousapurnima’.

• During 11 days the entire area of Bargarh city and sub-urban areas around Bargarh block turns into 'Mathura Nagari', the kingdom of Kansa.

• The festival begins with a drama depicting the downfall of Ugrasena, the emperor of Mathura, by Kansa, enraged at the marriage of his sister Devaki with Vasudeva.

• The festival ends with the death of the demon king Kansa and the restoration of the throne to Ugrasena.