Finance
The world’s largest open-air theater, the Dhanu Jatra, opened on Monday night in Bargarh town, Odisha, with a vibrant inaugural ceremony. District Collector Monisha Banerjee, MP Suresh Pujari of Bargarh, MLA Debesh Acharya, and SP Prahlad Sahai Meena all attended the event’s inauguration.
This year marks the 76th anniversary of the 11-day annual theater, which was first presented in 1947 to commemorate India’s Independence. Performances take place on multiple stages spread throughout an 8-kilometer radius in the Bargarh municipality and surrounding areas. This renowned outdoor theater’s theme is “Mathura Vijay,” which tells the story of Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon king Kansa.
According to mythology demon king Kansa tries to kill his nephew Lord Krisha in various ways but in the end, Lord Krishna destroys the demon king and frees the people of Mathura from his evil rule.
On this particular occasion, the surrounding village of Ambapali transforms into the mythical Gopapura, while the town of Bargarh is decked up to resemble Mathura. In a same vein, during Dhanu Jatra, the Jeera River near Bargarh is regarded as Yamuna. During the celebration, everyone living in Bargarh and the surrounding territories views themselves as Kansa’s subjects.
An even stronger indication of the festival’s magnificence is the fact that the Bargarh district administration provided an elephant, four camels, and a number of horses for the 11-day “Mathura Vijay” enactment, which spans the period from Lord Krishna’s childhood to Kansa’s death.
The Marwari Dharmachaya served as the festival’s representation of the royal palace for a number of years. However, this occasion, GD Goyal Dharmachaya, situated on the the side of the road, will be turned into a Raj Mahal, said Sureshwar Shetpathi, the host of the Dhanu Jatra organising committee.
Dignitaries will open the Rang Mahal in the Lok Mandap region on Tuesday. The birth of Lord Krishna in the Samalswari Mandap jail and Basudeva’s journey to Gopapur beside him will be covered in today’s episode. He’s going to meet Ugrasen and bring a female back to Mathura.
This year’s festival will feature a number of cultural teams performing at the court of demon king Kansa, both from within and outside the state of Odisha.
