Puri/Bargarh: People thronged to Bargarh to witness Lord Krishna slay demon king Kansa on the last day of Dhanu Jatra on Monday.
The king collapsed on the resplendent pandal of his Ranga Shabha, following which the festival concluded.
The tyrant king had been ruling Mathurapuri of Bargarh town since the last 11 days. Kansa accompanied by his royal courtiers made rounds of the town and pulled up government officials for lapses during this period.
He detained Bargarh Commercial Tax inspector Nirupama Sahoo and DFO Abhaya Kumar Dalai for questioning. Amid reports of low revenue collection, he imposed fine on the Commercial Tax Department and asked the authorities to collect the pending dues.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also graced the open-air theatre. He too was not spared by the demon king, who directed him to build a cancer hospital in the area.
Notably, Kansa had invited Dharmendraa to attend the Mathura Raj Darbar.
While praising him for his meteoric rise, the demon king advised the Union Minister to ensure that the farmers of Bargarh get fair price for the paddy husk from the upcoming ethanol plant in Bargarh and focus on development of the community.
Notably, the 11-day-long festival was held in Bargarh from January 11 to 21 this year.
Raj Darbar of 120 ft length and 70 ft width for Maharaja Kansa was constructed at the Hatapada field in the town.
For the entertainment of the people, Ranga Mahal was constructed at the Nisamani School field here and Nanda Darbar at Ambapali.
To make the Jatra more colourful, a total of 20 gates each of 40 feet high were erected in Bargarh town at an estimated cost of Rs 8 lakh.