What is Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha? World’s Largest Open-Air Theatre!

What is Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha?: Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha is the 11-day festival of the masses. During the Dhanu Yatra Festival, which held every year at the end of the harvesting of paddy in Odisha, episodes related to Bhagawan Shri Krishna are presented through folk art forms which touch the hearts of millions of people.

What Is the News About ‘Dhanu Yatra’ Festival?

• ‘Dhanu Yatra’, the World’s largest open-air theatre festival began on Tuesday i.e. on December 27, 2022, after a gap of two years, in Bargarh at the Odisha.
• To mark the occasion of the festival, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted everyone.
• The vibrant Dhanu Yatra Festival is associated with the culture of Odisha.

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Let’s Have A Look At The Background Of Dhanu Yatra Festival

• Dhanu yatra was held last time from December 31, 2019 to January 10, 2020.
• While the following year, it could not be celebrated due to the Covid-19 threat, earlier this year, another season of the yatra was cancelled after the executive committee unanimously decided to not hold the festival to avoid congregation of the public amid Covid restrictions imposed by the State government and ensure the safety of people.

Key Points About Dhanu Yatra Festival 2022-23

• The Festival Dhanu Yatra Festival 2022-23 is being held from December 27 to Jan 6, 2023.
• Around 3,000 artistes of 130 cultural troupes from across the country is participating in the festival.
• However, Kansa is the central attraction of the Dhanu Yatra.

What is Dhanu Yatra Festival Of Odisha?

• Dhanu Yatra is the eleven day long annual extravaganza places Bargarh, Odisha in the Cultural Map of India.
• It is at par with the standard of Odishan Heritage and culture.
• Dhanu Yatra Festival Of Odisha is an open-air theatre festival stretching more than 5 square K.M and comprising a village and a town in between.
• The cast too is lengthy, virtually every villager has a role to play and for the entire eleven days, the people of Bargarh oblige what King Kansa orders and not to the District Administration.

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Why, When & How People Of Odisha Celebrate Dhanu Yatra Festival?

• Like many traditional festivals of India, following a ceremonial calendar geared to the important events of the agricultural cycle, the Dhanu Yatra was started after the harvesting season of the year 1947-48, just after independence of India as a reflection of joyous atmosphere in the society for the end of British misrule.
• Since then it is performed every year at the end of the harvesting of paddy, the major crop of the locality.
• It starts from the 5th day of ‘Pousasukla’ to end on ‘Pousapurnima’.
• During the 11 days the entire area of Bargarh town and the adjacent sub–urban parts of Bargarh Block like Cement Nagar, Padhanpali, Jamurda, Tora etc, render into the kingdom  of KANSA – ‘The Mathura Nagari’.
• The river Jeera flowing by the side of Bargarh transcribed as river Jamuna and ‘Ambapali’ at the other side of the river becomes ‘Gopapura’ as per the mythological nomenclature.

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FAQs on Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha

Q. When Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha is Performed Every Year?

Ans. Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha is performed every year at the end of the harvesting of paddy, the major crop of the locality. It starts from the 5th day of ‘Pousasukla’ to end on ‘Pousapurnima’.

Q. What is Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha?

A. Dhanu Yatra Festival of Odisha is World’s Largest open-air theatre festival stretching more than 5 square K.M and comprising a village and a town in between. It is a festival of worshipping Bhagawan Shri Krishna and is is associated with the culture of Odisha.

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