Bhubaneswar: The Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department has decided to provide a financial grant of Rs 1 crore for Dhanu Jatra, an eleven-day event that transforms Bargarh town in Odisha into the world’s largest open-air theater.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday.
Along with the grant, an honorarium of Rs 10,000 each will also be provided to nearly 200 artistes participating in the festival, which is scheduled to begin from December 24.
The meeting also decided to construct Dhanu Jatra–themed welcome gates at major entry points of Bargarh town. Special tourist buses from Bhubaneswar and Puri to Bargarh will be operated during the festival.
To ensure wider outreach, the event will be telecast live through LED screens. “The Odisha Paribar Directorate will also arrange LED-screen live telecasts in various states outside Odisha,” an official release said.
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A dedicated website will also built to provide complete information about Dhanu Jatra, including event videos, major landmarks, hotels, parking areas, venue details and integrated GPS-based navigation support. A digital quiz will be hosted on the website to create awareness among students and digital certificates will be issued to participants, it added.
Stating that Dhanu Jatra represents the glorious journey of Odisha’s rich culture and heritage, Minister Suryabanshi Suraj directed officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival, emphasising on security, fire safety, sanitation, emergency medical services and overall administrative coordination.
He added that this year’s Dhanu Jatra will be celebrated in a grand manner. This is the 78th edition of the festival.
Dhanu Jatra is based on Krishna Leela and showcases the mythological story of Krishna and his uncle Kansa. During the Yatra, Bargarh town transforms into Mathura. River Jeera symbolically represents river Yamuna and Ambapali, which is located on the other side of the river Jeera, turns into Gopapur.
Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit, Bijepur MLA Sanat Kumar Gartia, Attabira MLANihar Ranjan Mahanand, Bhatli MLA Irashis Acharya, Bargarh MLA Ashwini Kumar Sarangi, Padmapur MLA Barsha Singh Bariha, Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Secretary, Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Special Secretary Deba Prasad Dash, Collector Bargarh Aditya Goyal and other senior officials attended the meeting.
