Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to ban obscene dances in jatras (traditional Odia theatre) across the state. This was announced by Odia Language, Literature & Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj in the state Assembly on Friday.
According to the minister, the state government is working on guidelines to prevent obscene dances in jatras. The government has also decided to hold discussions with jatra organizers to ensure that such performances are stopped immediately.
As per reports, this move comes after concerns were raised about vulgarity in Jatra shows during the ongoing winter session of the Odisha Assembly. BJP MLA Sanatan Bijuli expressed his concerns over obscene dance in Jatra, demanding a separate law to preserve Odisha’s cultural ethos.
Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh highlighted a recent incident in the Ganjam district where a Jatra show sparked public outrage due to objectionable performances. Singh suggested that such performances should be censored before being staged.
In a written statement, Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the Odisha government is committed to promoting Odia culture and decency and has already banned obscene dance performances in bars across the state. The new guidelines for Jatra shows are expected to be introduced soon, ensuring that these traditional performances align with the state’s cultural values.
Notably, the Law Minister had also reacted to the issue a few days ago, stating that obscene dances in jatras are against Odia culture. He had advised jatra organizers to decide to prevent such performances.
