The famous Dhanu Yatra festival, touted as the largest open-air theatre in the world, began in the western Odisha town of Bargarh on Friday.
During the festival, the district headquarters town of Bargarh is transformed into Mathura. The river Jeera becomes the Yanuna and Amapali, the village located on the other side of the river, is seen as Gopapur.
For 11 days, the entire town is transformed into an open-air theatre where everyone behaves like an actor. Kansa rules the town during these days and the residents become his obedient subjects. The rule of Kansa, his death and the exploits of Lord Krishna are enacted in various places of Mathura and Gopapur during the festival.
An elephant, horses and a camel, specially brought here from Allahabad for the festival, have added to the beauty of the procession of King Kansa. The entire town has been colourfully illuminated with 20 attractive arches in different places.
This year 170 cultural troupes from different parts of the country will perform their best cultural programmes during the festival. A Bangladeshi cultural troupe has confirmed to participate, the president of the organizing committee, Sureswar Mishra told The Pioneer.
On the sidelines of the yatra, a State-level handloom and handicrafts exhibition, trade fair and Pallishree Mela are also being organised.
Massive police arrangements have been made for the smooth running of the festival with deployment of two Superintendents of Police, eight DSPs and 15 Inspectors in the town.