Bhubaneswar: The annual Dhanu Jatra festival, a 11-day long open air theatrical performance recognized as a national festival by the Indian government’s department of culture, concluded last night with ‘Kansa Badha’, the death of the demon king Kansa by his nephew Lord Krishna.
The mythological story of Krishna and Kansa, in which good triumphs over evil, is enacted in the town of Bargarh, with Bargarh representing Kansa’s kingdom Mathura, Hatapada as his court, and Ambapalli on the other side of the Jeera river representing Gopapur.
During the festival, which runs from Pausa Shukla Panchami to Pausa Purnima, the tales of ‘Krishna Leela and Mathura Vijay’ is portrayed. The festival concluded with Lord Krishna and Balaram entering Kansa’s court and defeating him.
The role of King Kansa was played by Hrusikesh Bhoi. In accordance with tradition, he will now go to Puri to visit the Jagannath temple and atone for his sins.
