TV
A late-night jatra performance during the Ganesh Puja celebrations at Jatani in Khordha district descended into chaos when a section of the audience targeted actress Nisha Maharana. The situation turned violent as a chair was hurled towards the stage during her dance act, forcing the show to be abruptly stopped.
According to sources, the incident occurred on the Parbati Gananatya troupe’s stage, set up as part of the annual festivities. Witnesses said the unrest broke out after some spectators objected to Maharana’s dance moves, alleging they were indecent and inappropriate for a community event.
Witnesses said the performance was briefly stopped after the chair landed on stage, narrowly missing the actress. Members of the troupe and volunteers quickly intervened to restore order, after which the programme resumed under tighter monitoring.
Commotion Among Audience, Video Goes Viral
Eyewitnesses described a brief period of panic as two or three chairs were thrown. A section of the audience attempted to pacify the situation, while others shouted at the organisers. No injuries were reported, but the incident created tension in the packed pandal.
A video clip of the attack, showing Maharana startled and retreating as the chair landed on the stage, began circulating widely on Thursday morning. The footage, recorded by spectators on mobile phones, has since gone viral on social media platforms.
Recent Jatra Troubles
This is not the first time a jatra performance has drawn controversy. Maharana herself has often featured in headline-making performances, and disputes over ‘obscene’ dance numbers have sparked public confrontations in previous seasons as well.
The attack also comes weeks after another jatra-related controversy in Jajpur district, where an actor was seen handling a live python during a rehearsal. Notably, that incident too had gone viral on social media and enraged a wide section of users.
