Bargarh: With just a day left for Dhanu Yatra, the world’s biggest open air theatre, preparations for the 11-day long festival are on full swing in Bargarh town.
A special meeting chaired by Bargarh collector was held to ensure smooth conduct of the festival. The meeting was attended by Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Bhamu, Bargarh MLA Devesh Acharya, MP Prabhas Kumar Singh, Dhanu Yatra committee secretary, Sureswar Satpathy and other government officials.
A 120 feet height and 70 feet wide Raj Darbar (Royal Court) construction for King Kansa is constructed at Hatpada ground in the district. Similarly, Rangamahal has been constructed at Nishamani School ground where the actors will entertain spectators by their performances.
Besides, Bargarh town has been decorated as Mathurapuri, the capital city of king Kansa, while Ambapalli has been decked up as Gopapura, where Lord Krishna will spend his childhood.
Kansa, who is the central character of the Yatra, will hold his Raj Durbar (king’s court) at Hatpada for seven days and the Raj Durbar will be shifted to Nishamani School Ground from eighth day onwards when the crowd swells up.
The significance of this year Yatra is Bhubaneswar Pradhan playing the role of Kansa, who was selected from among 23 aspirants by a jury, while Sriyansh Mohapatra will enact the role of Lord Krishna.
With the central theme of the Yatra borrowed from ‘Krishna Leela and Mathura Vijay’, the enactment of Day One will begin with Kansa’s accession to throne followed by wedding of King Kansa’s sister Devaki with Basudev and conclude with ‘Kansa Badha’ at the hands of his nephew Lord Krishna.
Similarly, the enactments at Mathura revolves around Kansa, while Balya Leela (fun and frolic) of young Lord Krishna enacted in Gopapur includes Vastra Haran, Kalia Dalan, killing of demon warriors like Putuna, Sakata, Truna, Baka and Dhenu.
The enactment at Gopapur ends on the ninth day when Lord Krishna and Balaram arrive at Mathura accompanied by Akrura, a minister of Kansa, to participate in Dhanu Yatra.
The town is decorated with lights and colourful gates to make the festival more alluring and lively.
“Preparation is at the final stages. Construction of Rajdarbar and Rangamahal will be completed by tomorrow,” said secretary of Dhanu Yatra samiti Sureswara Sathpathy adding all possible measures to ensure that the festival is celebrated in a harmonious manner were being taken.
PNN