In Odisha, the largest open-air theatre in the world, ‘Dhanu Yatra’ was inaugurated this evening at Bargarh in Odisha. The eleven-day annual cultural spectacle brings mythology, tradition and performance together in a unique celebration as the town of Bargarh turns into the mythical city of Mathura.

The event is a dramatic re-enactment of the mythological tale of lord Krishna’s life, from his birth to the death of his demon uncle, King Kansa. Streets, palaces and courtyards become live performance spaces, including the ‘Rangamahal’ and Nanda Raja’s court, where episodes from the life of Lord Krishna unfold.

Dhanu Yatra, unlike conventional theatre, erases the boundary between actors and audience, and turns the entire Bargarh town into a dynamic storytelling canvas. The Central Government has accorded National Festival status to ‘Dhanu Yatra’. Thousands of visitors from across Odisha and beyond have congregated at Bargarh to watch the colourful Yatra.