Dhanu Yatra

Only a few are aware that Worlds biggest open air theatre (festival) held in a small town of Bargarh in the western part of Orissa.

The town, which has a population of about lakh spread over a few square miles, turns in to a unique epic town of Mathura for 11 days festival known locally as Dhanu Yatra.

“By organizing this festival on such a large scale we want to send the message that generation may have passed but the definition of good and evil remains unchanged,” says one of the Organiser.

Come the month of Pusha (winter, the first half of January), the sleepy town turns festive, the whole town becomes stage where people depict mythology into a religion. The uniqueness of the festival lies in the fact that all the episodes of ‘Kans Vadh’ (The killing of Kans) takes place in different parts of the town making it the largest open air theatre in the world.

Interestingly, the people in the state as well as inside their houses become artist, the satellite settlements near by villages, rivers and buildings takes on classical names as they were known in the age of Mahabharat. A visitor at this time may be pardoned for thinking that he has, by mistake got into a time machine which has transported him backward.

During the festival Bargarh awakes to the vibrations of drums, bugles and shehenais. “For 11 days we forget todays worlds”, said Kanhu Pattnaik, a school teacher in Bargarh who is happy that bewildered truck drivers on the National High Way near the town still ask whether Kans rules in this part of the world.

Bargarh becomes Mathura Puri as in was called some 5,000 years ago. The neighboring Amapali village becomes “Goapa Pur” the place Krishna immortalized with the “Bala Lilla” The Jeera which flows between Bargarh and Amapali becomes “Yamuna” for the time being.

The mood takes over thousands from near by villages who throng the streets of Bargarh to enjoy and participate in the cultural drama. The main attraction is Kans whose characterization dominate the festival despite people viewing him as a demon.

“Begging the role of Kans, is no mean a task, for it means royal living for 11 days and passing orders like a king, says Gopal Sahu, who played the role for 15 years before being denied the role since 2001”.

Interestingly the festival not only  re-enacts mythology but also provide amusements to the people. As Kans goes around the city every day the people regardless of, who they are bow before him. The District Collector and Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and other administrative officials who visit Kans Darbar are treated as the King’s employees and local MLAs, MPs and Ministers are projected as his representatives.

The festival begins with enactment the grand wedding of devaki and Vasudev, then traces the birth of Krishna and climaxes with Kans’s death.

The unique extravaganza boasts of a cast that involves virtually everyone in Bargarh.

The Panchayat Motel turns in the royal palace of Kans and the Durbar is a pandal erected at Hatpada in the heart of the Bargarh town. The local Radha Krishna temple serves as the prison house of Vasudeva and Devaki. The most remarkable feature of the Yatra, which hopes to find a place in Guinness Book of World Record is that there are no spectators, rather all are participants in the epic play.

Kans, astride a decorated elephant, goes on a Nagar Parikrama every morning. During the tour, he imposes fines on businessmen as well as government departments for violation of rules. He also holds a durbar to listen to the grievances of his subjects and reprimands or awards officials, including the Collector and Superintendent of Police, who become his court officials during the festival.

In short, anyone who dares to cross his path gets the royal rap, no one is spared, the dictatorial power enlivening the whole drama. Anyone can be hauled by the kind, from Chief Minister down to the poor and landless labourers. In 1994 for instance, the then Chief Minister Sri Biju Pattnaik, who attended the yatra was summoned to Kans’s Durbar. Pattnaik not only oblidged but even deposited a fine for a punishment served on him.

According to scholars, the origin of “Dhanu Yatra” is obscure. Some say it was very popular in the 18^th century while others argue that is started in the 16^th century. It is also believed that the yatra was restarted during the British regime.  

This mela is celebrated from Triyodasi to Purnima in the month of Baisakh at Nrusighanath. It is celebrated on the occasion of Nrusingha Janma and also known as Narsingh Chaturdashi Mela. There becomes a huge gathering of devotees on this occasion.

Car Festival of Bhatli

This festival is celebrated at Dadhibaman Temple of Bhatli on the Dwitiya Tithi of Asadha. On this day Lord Dadhibaman rides on the chariot and sets out on a journey to Mausima Mandir. The Lord stays in Mausima Mandir for 9 days and again on the Dasami of Asadha the return Car Festival is celebrated. On this day the Lord returns to his temple. There becomes a huge gathering of devotees at Bhatli. This car festival is said to have affinity with that of Puri. So it is famous in Western Orissa.

Sital Sasthi Of Barpali

This festival is celebrated in Barpali on the day of Sasthi in the month of Jestha every year on the occasion of the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parbati. There is a huge gathering of devotees at Barpali. It is a mobile yatra. Many folk dances, cultural programmes are organized which the people enjoy it at night. For the last few years it has also been celebrated in proper Bargarh town.

Bali Yatra of Khuntapali

This yatra is celebrated on the sand-bed of river Zeera at Khuntpali on the day of Kartika Purnima. On this occasion Lord Shiva is worshipped with all serenity on the sand-bed. During this many trade fares are held on the sand-bed at Khuntpali.

Maha Shivaratri of Kedarnath

It is celebrated at Kedarnath Temple with pump and ceremony and also in other temples of Bargarh. It is celebrated on the Chaturdasi in the month of Falguna. Lord Shiva is worshipped on this occasion. On this day the devotees observe fasting and remain awakened at night. Many cultural programmes are organized which the people enjoy.

Falguna Mela of Bhatli

It is celebrated on the occasion of Phaguna Ekadasi in the honour of Lord Shyam Bihari at Bhatli. It is famous for its unique unity of Shyamdham in this district.

Nuakhai (Nabarnna)

This is a social festival of unity. This festival is observed among kith and kins during the month of Bhadraba. It is a festival of harvest of crops. On this occasion the new grain after harvesting is first offered to the local deity and during this festival the people get themselves lost in merrymakings. Wearing new clothes, preparing delicious foods the people of this area celebrate this festival with enthusiasms. It is mostly an agricultural festival of Western Orissa.