Dhanu Jatra is currently underway in Bargarh, a unique festival where the entire town of Bargarh becomes an open air theater.

**I**t is basically to celebrate the story of Krishna and his slaying of Kansa, and is so called as it is held during the month of Dhanu. It is celebrated for a period of 11 days, narrating the tale of Krishna and Kans, through use of dance and drama. What makes this unique however is the way this play is actually staged. While it does sound similiar to Ram Leela, here, instead of one single stage, the entire town of Bargarh becomes an open air theater itself. https://preview.redd.it/ar8d2w7owxae1.png?width=481&format=png&auto=webp&s=c544c83827abcc98ea09f8de1b77db93480681c9 The uniqueness of Dhanu Jatra is that the town of Bargarh and the neighbouring village of Ambupali, become the setting for the entire drama about Krishna and Kansa. Every nook and corner of these two places becomes a setting for the drama, with all the residents joining in and even those visiting it. In a way this is an interactive drama, where the audiences and the actors become one. Imagine 10,000 residents taking part in this entire skit, on their own, and none of them are professional actors per se.During Dhanu Jatra, the town of Bargarh, turns into Kansa’s capital of Mathura, while the neighbouring village of Ambupalli, becomes Gopapura, in effect Vrindavan, where Krishna grows up. The Jeera river that flows through Bargarh, becomes the Yamuna, and one of the settings for the play. What is interesting here is Kans character, for the entire duration of the play, the actor who plays Kans becomes the defactor ruler of Bargarh. He walks around the town in his regal attire, atop an elephant, people pay respects to him, even the district admininstration, the legislators, every one considers him as the ruler. https://preview.redd.it/z52qzl0qwxae1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=91ff969ecf8d47042106b03981bbdc77d0952c9b No wonder that the role of Kans is the most coveted one, with the actor playing that role becoming a mini celebrity of sort. In the words of Hrusikesh Bhoi, a Govt driver, who waited for 10 years to do the role of Kansa, > The record though is held by Gopal Sahu, a cop, who played the role of Kans for a record 22 years. And there is no rivalry between the actors here, many do it for sheer love and passion. Kans here is seen in two stages, during the morning, he is like any other king going around, meeting his subjects, imposing small punishments and fines, listening to their problems. During this time, every part of Bargarh becomes an impromptu stage of sorts, with the residents, getting drawn into the action. https://preview.redd.it/i50c65brwxae1.png?width=650&format=png&auto=webp&s=7cdfeaeed6c818fe905a587b717252a8e2e9c5dc During night time, however Kans retreats to his Rang Mahal, where he spends time with his ministers, plotting on ways to kill Krishna, and invoking the demons. The Rang Mahal is a huge stage that is set up right in the middle of Bargarh town, decorated to look like a palace. https://preview.redd.it/g0xfybuswxae1.png?width=310&format=png&auto=webp&s=2aa0465588f8312f466045d09b56f4edc7b01d1f And Ambupali enacts the scenes of Krishna’s life, his growing up under Nanda and Yashoda, his exploits with the demons. The Jeera river becomes the Yamuna, where Krishna performs his Ras Leela dance, while a pond becomes the Kalindi where the epic battle of Krishna with the snake Kaliya is enacted. Also the actors in the skit, deliver their dialogues impromptu sans any script or prompting. For the entire period, the town of Bargarh, is transported into another era, it is like entering a time machine. You could see Krishna doing one of his playful antics, or Kansa could be walking just past you. You are not the audience watching a play here, you are part of the play here, in some way or other. https://preview.redd.it/b6k7q0vtwxae1.png?width=248&format=png&auto=webp&s=c90bd3787ce447752bfa53d31af1b502883da422 And finally the Dhanu Jatra comes to an end, with the last day showing Krishna and Balaram, entering Bargarh( Mathura), with the help of Akrura. The actor who plays Akrura, takes Krishna and Balaram across the town, and people there treat them like real gods. Krishna and Balaram’s fight with the wrestlers Chanura and Mushtika is enacted live, and finally the festival comes to an end with Krishna killing Kans, and restoring the throne to Ugrasen, Kansa’s father. He also frees his real parents Devaki and Vasudev, from the prison, which is another building in the town. https://preview.redd.it/e686konuwxae1.png?width=220&format=png&auto=webp&s=33fcc764d6a9a53c92fa7b738f0539e3441258a1 The origins of Dhanu Jatra are not very clear, many state that this started after independence, when people celebrated freedom from British rule, with Kansa and his ministers representing the colonial rulers. In effect it is more of a harvest time festival with farmers and working classes, doing a thanksgiving of sorts. Whatever be the story behind it, fact is Dhanu Jatra is unique in it’s own way, a festival, where a town becomes an open air theater, and the audiences themselves become part of the drama. Truly, Incredible India. Source [https://sadashree.substack.com/p/dhanu-jatra](https://sadashree.substack.com/p/dhanu-jatra)