BARGARH: The Covid-19 pandemic has cast its dark shadow on yet another prime festival of the State, the Dhanu Yatra in Bargarh. For the first time in 55 years, the largest open air theatre of the world which celebrates the cultural grandiosity of Western Odisha will be missing in action as the district administration decided against holding it.
The 72nd edition of the 11-day-long event was scheduled to be held be held from January 18, 2021.
Speaking to mediapersons, Collector Jyotiranjan Pradhan said the decision to not hold the festival this time was taken unanimously in the executive committee meeting of Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav Samiti (DYMS) which was held on Sunday. “We decided in the larger interest of people. New Covid-19 cases are still being reported in the district and people are well aware,” he said.
DYMS convener Sureswar Satpathy said the festival is not possible without congregation of large number of people, which would be risky in the current situation. As per the Covid-19 protocol, congregation of more 200 people is not allowed. The famed Dhanu Yatra, which had started during 1947-48 at the time of India’s independence, had been cancelled once in 1965 due to the Indo-Pak war, Satpathy said.
Considered the largest open air theatre in the world and spread over five square km, the entire town of Bargarh turns into a stage for the yatra. The town becomes Mathura under demon king Kansa’s rule, while the Balya Leela of Krishna take places at Ambapali on the other side of Jeera river in the town, which transforms into Gopapura.
Depicting the triumph of good over evil, the festival was first held in 1948 to celebrate Indian Independence and victory over the British rule. As it grew bigger and attained a status that remains hitherto unparalleled, Dhanu Yatra saw use of moving as well as a multiple stages to showing the mythological story as it involved the entire populace in the festival.
Last year, budget for the festival was pegged around Rs 1.20 crore. More than 100 artistes depicted various roles at Mathura as well as Gopapur. Besides, over 3000 artistes from 120 cultural troupes also performed at the Raj Durbar and Ranga Mahal during the yatra.