BARGARH: The 11-day action-packed Dhanu Yatra began in right earnest today with enactments in both Mathura (Bargarh) and Gopapur (Ambapali). However, with the enactments being staged at various times of the day, serpentine queue of visitors travelled to both the places to have a glimpse of the biggest open-air theatre of the world.
Young girls and boys dressed up as gopis took to streets at Ambapali, distributing sweets rejoicing in the birth of the heir apparent of Nanda Raja.
This year, a six-month old baby replaced the doll, as Krishna. Womenfolk from Ambapali and neighbouring villages thronged Gopapur and are busy singing kirtans welcoming the baby boy.
Carrying on the legacy of his late father Basudev Podh, his son Satyanarayan Podh is playing the part of Nanda and his wife Jyostna Rani, the duties of Yasoda. Back at Bargarh, King Kansa visited Samaleswari temple, the makeshift prison where he tries to kill Bijuli Kanya. The little girl dressed up as a goddess is made to stand at the temple and warn Kansa of his impending death.
Distressed Kansa returns to his Raj Durbar as the scene changes from the Samaleswari Temple at Tali Pada to Hatpada where the makeshift Raj Durbar has been erected. At his durbar, Kansa conspires to kill the child.
Earlier in the afternoon, Kansa toured his kingdom and imposed fines on people who dared to disobey his fiats or mentioned the name of Lord Krishna.