Dhanu Jatra

     While massive spectacular theatrical presentations are a speciality of Jatra Of Orissa, the Dhanu Jatra of Baragarh, Sambalpur tops them all, in the imaginative grandeur.
     While else where in Orissa, a pond, a huge tree and it's surrounding, a vast field, a village or a mile long street, have been improvised to be the acting areas, here in Dhanu Jatra, several villages, a town including a river turn into the acting areas of the play.
     While the village Amapali turns to be the 'Gopapura' and the town of Bargarh as 'Mathura', river Jatra becomes the sacred river of Jamuna.
     The Dhanu Jatra, which is a part of the celebration of Krishnalila and continues for a week during the month of Pousha, reminds one of the description of Indra's banner festival mentioned in the first chapter of Natyasastra.

     Beside other highlights, Kansa's elephant ride in the streets of his kingdom, his high Mancha from where he falls and dies, and his Durbar, everything is so well planned and improvised that perhaps no where in the world, a play has been made to achieve such a vast magnitude bringing that central goal in dramatics, the unity, the team spirit and the universal brotherhood.
     And about the so called modern technique of spectator's participation in Dhanu Jatra, nothing said is better because when all the villages, town and the river turn to be the acting areas, naturally all the inhabitants and visitors also turn to be characters in the play including you if you happen to be there during the Jatra period.
     And, during his ride in the streets or at his Durbar if the actor King Kansa finds you guilty (Whoever you are, including top government official and whether you did commit a wrong or not) you have got to pay a fine (according to your sweet will, all in sportive fun.
     The very idea of this
Dhanu Jatra of Orissa is not only awe-inspiring and fantastic but also very entertaining and educative.

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