Daspalla is all set to host the Lanka Podi Yatra on April 22, the last event of the 16-day festival when demon king Ravan is killed by Lord Ram.
The Lanka Podi festival gets a special mention in the cultural kaleidoscope of Odisha because of the spectacular presentation of Ramleela.
The festival is an annual event for Daspalla, better known as Mahavir Khetra for housing a temple of Lord Mahavir (signifying Lord Hanuman), the presiding deity of the area.
Claimed to be one of its kind open air theatre in Odisha, the 213-year-old festival is participated by thousands of visitors from far and near.
During the festival days, daily one episode of Ramleela, the great epic of Ramayana, will be performed starting from the birth of Lord Ram. On the last day of the festival, demon Ravana is killed by Lord Rama and the victory of truth over evil is celebrated with colourful fireworks. Special attraction of the Yatra would be the movable 35-foot tall wooden idol of 10-headed Ravana and his 40-foot high Pushpak Bimana. A mile long street turns the arena from the temple to the improvised city of Lanka of Ravana. While the performance is presented in phases, the acting area expands from place to place in the street where platforms are made for the characters who reach from the temple in a procession each night. The artistes who participate in the festival observe strict penance.
According to historians, the Yatra has its origin from the reign of King Trilochan Bhanj in 1802. At first, Ramayan written by Vikram Narendra was recited before Lord Mahavir followed by dances by artistes wearing wooden masks. It was King Krushna Chandra Bhanj who later added colour to the Yatra in 1805.
The organisers of this Yatra are, however, unhappy with the State Government’s attitude towards it. Lanka Podi Yatra Committee member Prashanta Sahoo said despite historical evidence of the festival being 200 years old, no steps have yet been initiated by the State to promote it. “It is due to contribution of locals the festival can be organised,” he added.