Bargarh town in western Odisha has once again turned into a giant open-air stage as the famous Dhanu Yatra brings mythological stories to life. Known as the world’s largest open-air theatre, the 11-day festival transforms Bargarh into Mathura, the kingdom of demon king Kansa from Hindu mythology, where scenes from Lord Krishna’s life unfold across streets, fields and public spaces.
During Dhanu Yatra, the actor playing Kansa becomes the symbolic ruler of the town. Wearing a crown and riding an elephant, he moves through Bargarh, stopping vehicles, questioning people and holding court in public. Even government officers are summoned to his durbar to present reports. For these days, Kansa’s word is treated as law, continuing a long tradition deeply rooted in the folklore of western Odisha. It is said that even former chief minister Biju Patnaik once appeared before Kansa’s court on his orders.
On Tuesday night, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi appeared before the “court of demon king Kansa” on the seventh day of the festival. Riding an elephant, the chief minister reached the durbar, where Kansa questioned him about the development of Mathura Nagari, the name given to Bargarh during Dhanu Yatra.
Replying to the mythical ruler, Majhi presented what he called a development report card for the district. “Our government has already launched 123 development projects worth ₹1,362 crore in Bargarh district,” he told the court. He added that foundation stones have been laid for 85 projects worth ₹980.58 crore, and 38 projects costing ₹382.26 crore have already been inaugurated.
The chief minister also spoke about welfare schemes, especially for women. Referring to the Subhadra Yojana, he said, “Under this scheme, women receive ₹10,000 in a year in two instalments.” According to him, more than 3.41 lakh women in Bargarh have benefited from the programme.
Majhi also highlighted paddy procurement in the district, saying farmers had sold nearly 13.99 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the 2024–25 kharif and rabi seasons. “Payments and input assistance worth ₹4,338 crore have been given to farmers,” he said, adding that Odisha would see more industrial development in the coming days.
The chief minister announced four new projects for Bargarh, including a sewage treatment plant on the Jira river, a modern bus terminal, a vending zone at Hatpada and an inland water reservoir at Grindola, with a total cost of around ₹380 crore.
He also announced increased support for the festival itself. “Dhanu Jatra is a model of India’s cultural economy. It shows how spirituality is deeply connected with social life,” Majhi said. He increased the state grant for the festival from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore and announced stipends of ₹10,000 each for more than 200 artists participating in the event.
Majhi further said the state government is trying to get UNESCO recognition for Dhanu Yatra. He laid the foundation stone for a Rangamahal, to be built at a cost of about ₹12.8 crore, for future editions of the festival. From the symbolic court of Kansa, the chief minister also gave a message against corruption.
Dhanu Yatra, which began on December 24, will conclude on January 3 with the killing of Kansa by Lord Krishna, symbolising the victory of good over evil. Despite his eventual defeat, Kansa remains the most popular character of the festival, admired for his powerful presence, sharp dialogue and larger-than-life performance that continues to draw thousands of people every year.
