I am elated to be part of the World’s biggest open air theater Dhanuyatra at Western Odisha’s cultural hub Bargarh on January 3, 2015. During the 11 days long festival, the entire Bargarh town dramatically becomes ‘Mathura Puri’ as perceived to be in Mahabharat days. Not only the town, but also its adjacent villages, rivers and buildings are given classical identity as was in the age of ‘Mahabharata’. In traditional fervor with massive participation people seem to go back to the thousands of years. The drama starts with the enactment of the grand wedding of Devaki and Vasudev, birth of Krishna and finally concludes with Kans death. Maharaj Kans the demon king, the central character of the drama, rides decorated elephant goes for Nagar Parikrama every morning and regardless of identity, people bow before the King. Even the Maharaja imposes fines. The King holds daily ‘darbar’ to address the grievances made by his subjects, reprimands and also gives award to officials. The episodes of the festival takes place in multiple locations of the town making it the largest open air theater in the World, which provides the festival a unique identity
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 01:53:49 +0000
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