The 68th edition of the world-famous Dhanu Jatra began here amid much fanfare on Monday evening.
Bargarh district Collector Anjan Kumar Manik opened the 11-day-long open air theatre in the presence of SP B Yugal Kishore, ADM Bijaya Kumar Rath and Yatra Committee convener Sureswar Sathpathy.
The town has been bedecked in a royal style, transforming it into the Mathura of Dwapara Yuga.
The Jatra would be performed across an area of eight sqkm at three Darbars and over 11 open theatres till January 12. The central theme of the Jatra is ‘Krishna leela and Mathura Vijay’.
With the beginning of the event, the town has come under Maharaj Kansa’s reign. While Ambapali has been converted into Gopapur the river Jeera has been transformed into river Jamuna.
To avoid any untoward situation during the Jatra, the district administration has beefed up security at the venue.
“We have made elaborate security arrangements with deployment of 12 platoons of police personnel, six DSPs, 10 inspectors and 29 sub-inspectors to prevent any untoward situation during the Dhanu Jatra,” said Bargarh SP Yugal Kishore.
Following implementation of the code of conduct ahead of the panchayat polls in the State, political leaders have been barred to visit the Kansa Darbar, sources said.