Baragada: The controversy over the selection of Maharaja Kansa for the world-famous Baragada Dhanu Yatra has been resolved, with the festival committee agreeing to remove the 60-year age ceiling for the coveted role following objections from the Western Odisha Dhanu Yatra Artists’ Association.
The association has welcomed the committee’s clarification on the selection process and announced that its members will begin submitting applications for the role of Kansa from Monday, secretary Jagadananda Mishra said on Sunday.
According to Mishra, Dhanu Yatra festival committee secretary Sureswar Satapathy clarified that artist Sushil Meher had voluntarily submitted his withdrawal letter, which was accepted by the committee with due respect. Subsequently, a fresh notification was issued for selection for the next two years. A comprehensive selection process for all characters will be conducted after the two-year period, he said.
Satapathy also assured that the festival committee has consistently upheld the interests of artists and spectators across Odisha, and not merely those associated with the Western Odisha Dhanu Yatra Artists’ Association.
Following the clarification, senior members of the association held an emergency virtual meeting and decided to accept the committee’s response. As the clarification was furnished within the deadline set by the association, its members agreed to cooperate with the selection process.
The controversy had escalated after the association, at an emergency meeting held on November 5 at the Chandi Temple premises in Deogaon Panchayat on the outskirts of Baragada, unanimously decided to boycott the Kansa selection process until the festival committee clarified the circumstances surrounding Meher’s withdrawal and the subsequent selection notification.
With the age restriction now removed and the association agreeing to participate, the way has been cleared for the selection process to move forward.
