Baragarh/Bolangir: World famous Bargarh Dhanua Jatra is all set to begin from Monday as all the rituals were conducted before Goddess ‘Samaleswari’- the presiding deity of the event and western Odisha.
The artisans are busy giving final touches to stage for the 11-day gala festival. The event which will set the stage for all mythological places related to Lord Krishna based in the ancient city itself. While Bargarh will become the Mathuranagari, Ambapalli area will stage as Gopapur, the parenting place of Krishna. Similarly, Jeera river will act as river Yamuna and Hatapada mandap will be Raj darbar of king Kansa.
Elephants and camels have reached the Bargarh town for the journey of Kansa Maharaj.
Meanwhile, no political leaders, ministers and people's representatives have been invited to the festival due to the code of conduct for the panchayat polls in force.
"The election commission has directed not to invite any political leaders to the event as it will amount to the violation of poll code. The drama will be enacted smoothly in the most traditional and cultural way", Baragarh Collector Anjan Manik said.
Dhanu Jatra is an annual drama-based open air theatrical performance celebrated in a 6 km radius in and around Bargarh municipality. It is considered to be the world’s largest open air theatrical festival.
Meanwhile, the tribals of Khairaguda in Bolangir district have prepared to observe the famous Sulia festival. The district tribal welfare association and Sulia Puja committee had convened a meeting on Saturday where the tribals have decided to sacrifice animals and birds like previous years.
On the other hand, Sulia Sanskar Samiti flayed the government and district administration for not undertaking any awareness campaign against the act this year.
"No measures have been taken to aware people against animal sacrifice. The place Khairaguda is still in darkness and is yet to witness the light of development", said Hemant Panda, member of Sulia Sanskar Samiti.