Balangir: Police in Odisha’s Balangir district have registered a case against popular Jatra artiste Nisha Maharana for allegedly performing an obscene dance during a show in Chandanbhati area in the district on January 12.
The complaint, filed at Balangir Sadar police station, has sparked concerns over her potential arrest as investigations continue.
According to police sources, the formal complaint accused the dancer of presenting an obscene performance during the show, which drew objections from sections of the audience who flung chairs and shoes onto the stage. The incident also reignited a long-standing debate over the nature of dance sequences in traditional Jatra shows, often criticised for crossing cultural boundaries.
While two organisers of the event – Surendra Nag and Radheshyam Meher – have been detained for questioning, a police team also traveled to Bhubaneswar to locate the dancer and ascertain her whereabouts. Further action, including any possible arrest, would depend on the outcome of the ongoing probe and a thorough examination of all evidence, the sources added.
Speaking to the media on January 13, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan also warned of strict action, similar to Chhattisgarh, against organisers if they allowed obscene dance
in Jatra. He confirmed that organisers and Jatra party owners have already been informed about the government’s stance.
In Chhattisgarh, Maharana’s controversial performance during a six-day opera programme in Gariaband district had led to widespread public outrage, swift administrative crackdown, and multiple arrests. Viral videos from the programme, particularly from January 8-10, showed performers allegedly engaging in obscene acts, including stripping and explicit movements, as audience, including officials and policemen, showered money on them, recorded the acts, and in some cases interacted inappropriately. Following which, Maunpur Sub-Divisional Officer Dr Tulsi Das Markama was transferred for allegedly granting permission without proper clearance and personally attending the show and and another three police personnel were suspended for allegedly enjoying the performance instead of enforcing discipline. Devbhog police also arrested 14 organisers linked to the opera, which was closed on January 10 on the orders of Gariaband Collector.
Maharana, a well-known figure in Odisha’s Jatra circuit, has faced repeated criticism over the years for her performances. Regular audiences and cultural observers have frequently called for restrictions on such acts, arguing that they undermine the traditional essence of Jatra and create discomfort for family viewers.
Such shows in the state too have provoked strong reactions in the past too. In February last year, 12 people suffered injuries in a clash that broke out between two groups after some girls allegedly started dancing wearing skimpy outfits during a Jatra show at Kudanagari village in Kendrapada.