Bargarh: The Bargarh Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav is set to commence on December 24 and will run for 11 days, concluding on January 3, 2026.
This year’s Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav will feature a selection process for Kansa and other artists prior to the festival. The meeting, held on Monday evening under the chairmanship of Bargarh District Collector Aditya Goyal, decided to incorporate more new elements and attractions into the festival compared to previous years.
Goyal, who is also the President of the Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav Committee, discussed various aspects of the festival, including security, budget, and infrastructure.
That apart, Goyal provided valuable suggestions to make the festival more organized, glorious, and attractive. He emphasized that Bargarh’s Dhanu Yatra is recognized as the largest open-air theatre in the world and is a symbol of the district’s pride, culture, and heritage. Therefore, he urged everyone to work together to preserve the tradition, glory, and grandeur of Dhanu Yatra and requested their cooperation in achieving this goal.
Discussions also focused on strengthening the law and order situation, as well as crowd control measures, to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable experience for all attendees. Furthermore, the selection process for artists was scrutinized, with an emphasis on maintaining transparency and fairness.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the preparation of the budget and the formulation of a detailed work plan and implementation strategy. These deliberations were aimed at ensuring the festival’s success and making it a grand celebration.
The meeting was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including Bargarh MLA Ashwini Kumar Sarangi, Atabira MLA Nihar Ranjan Mahanand, Padampur MLA Barsha Singh Bariha, Bargarh Municipal Chairperson Kalpana Majhi, Additional District Collector Madhuchhanda Sahu, Mahendra Mohapatra, and Sureshwar Satpathy, Secretary and Convener of the Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav Committee.
The meeting expressed concern over the absence of the Superintendent of Police, who is also the Vice-President of the Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav Committee.
Padampur MLA expressed her disappointment, citing the previous year’s incident where a young woman was assaulted during the festival. She emphasized the need for ensuring the safety of the large number of women and men who attend the festival from various villages.
MLA Bariha further pointed out that the SP’s absence from such a crucial meeting was unfortunate and raised questions about the prioritization of security measures.
