Bhubaneswar: The world’s largest open-air theatre ‘Dhanu Jatra’ will kick off in Odisha’s Bargarh town on Monday. The entire Bargarh town has been decorated with colourful lights and banners for this 11-day festival.
During the Dhanu Jatra, the entire Bargarh town turns into the holy city of Mathura, while the nearby Ambapali village converts into the mythological Gopapura. The close by Jeera River is considered as the Yamuna River and the inhabitants of Bargarh town turn into the subjects of the mythological demon king Kansa during this period.
The demon king Kansha’s Raj Darbar and his Ranga Mahal have been completed and several arch gates have been erected to make the town appear as Kansa’s kingdom. The Raj Darbar constructed at Hatapada in Bargarh town is 95 feet high and 45 feet long.
The theatre will be performed on 14 different stages constructed across the town in an area spanning nearly seven kilometers.