11-day reign of Maharaja Kansa begins in Odisha’s Bargarh town

The reign of King Kansa started in Bargarh as the 11-day long Dhanu Yatra, purported to be the world’s largest open air theatre, kicked off tin this western Odisha town on Friday.

For these 11 days, Bargarh town turns into Mathuranagar, the capital of Kansa, while Ambapalli village across the Jeera river becomes Gopapura, the abode of Lod Krishna.

After a ceremonial puja at Samaleswari temple, the King of Mathura Ugrasen, seated on a throne mounted atop an elephant, did the rounds of streets of the town in a colourful procession to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments.

Bargarh MP Dr. Prabhas Singh, Bargarh MLA Debesh Acharya and collector Anjan Kumar Manik were among those present at the inauguration ceremony.

In view of the outbreak of jaundice in Sambalpur, the district administration has made elaborate efforts to make people – especially vendors – of the need to maintain hygiene so as to prevent the outbreak of the dreaded disease.