Sambalpur, Jan. 2: Bargarh town today transformed into the mythological Mathura city with the commencement of Dhanu yatra, the largest open-air theatre in the world.

During the festival that marks the rule of king Kansa, the Jeera river becomes the Yamuna, while Amapali, which is located on the town outskirts, transforms into Gopapura. Kansa's rule, his death and the exploits of Lord Krishna are enacted at various at "Mathura" and "Gopapura" during the festival.

The 11-day yatra began with the wedding of Basudev and Debaki, followed by dethroning of king Ugrasen and coronation of Kansa today. Kansa would rule the small town till 12th of this month and Bargarh residents would become his subjects.

While Hrushikesh Bhoi is performing the role of Kansa, which is the most popular character of Dhanu yatra, Artatrana Mohapatra is playing the role of Ugrasen. Pradeep Panda is playing the role of Kansa's mahamantri and Sreyansh Mohapatra is enacting the role of Lord Krishna. Srivansh Mohapatra is playing the role of Balram in this year's yatra.

This festival came into existence in 1947-48 to celebrate the Independence. During the fest, all the people of Bargarh become artistes and the town becomes a big stage. The festival will conclude on January 12 with the death of Kansa and coronation of Ugrasen.

Several cultural programmes will also be organised during the festival. Cultural troupes from across the country and abroad visit Bargarh to perform during the yatra. "Around 3,000 artistes of 120 cultural troupes from across the country will perform at the raj durbar and rangamahal this year," said Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav Samiti convener Sureswar Satpathy.

Similarly, unlike previous years, the people will get to see various programmes at Amapali on all the 11 days of the festival. Earlier, programmes used to be held for seven days at "Gopapura". "We have also appealed the nearby villagers to come to Gopapura in bullock cart," said Surendra Hota, an organising committee member of the festival at Amapali.

On the sidelines of the festival, a national-level handloom exhibition and meena bazaar are also being organised this year. A cultural procession was also organised at the town before the inauguration of the festival. The procession started from the Gandhi Chhak and moved round the town before culminating at the Samaleswari temple.