Bhubaneswar, Dec 31: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday appeared before the symbolic “court of demon king Kansa” during the annual Dhanu Jatra festival in Bargarh and highlighted the development initiatives undertaken by his government for the district.
Participating in the 11-day Dhanu Jatra—considered the world’s largest open-air theatre depicting the mythological tale of Lord Krishna’s victory over King Kansa—the chief minister rode an elephant to the royal court (Darbar) of Kansa, a central attraction of the festival.
In the enactment, the mythical ruler questioned Majhi about the development of Mathura Nagari, represented by present-day Bargarh.
Responding in character, the chief minister informed the court that the state government has launched 123 development projects in Bargarh district with a total investment of Rs 1,362 crore.
Of these, foundation stones were laid for 85 projects worth Rs 980.58 crore, while 38 projects costing Rs 382.26 crore were inaugurated.
Majhi also announced four new projects for the district, involving an expenditure of about Rs 380 crore. These include the construction of a sewage treatment plant on the Jira River, development of a vending zone at Hatpada, construction of a modern bus terminal, and creation of an inland water reservoir at Grindola.
Highlighting welfare initiatives, the chief minister said that under the women-centric Subhadra Yojana, 3,41,614 women in Bargarh district are receiving financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per annum each.
He further stated that during the 2024–25 kharif and rabi seasons, paddy procurement from 2,41,135 farmers totalled nearly 13.99 lakh metric tonnes, with payments and input assistance amounting to Rs 4,338 crore.
The demon king, as part of the enactment, expressed satisfaction over the government’s efforts. Addressing the gathering later, Majhi described Dhanu Jatra as a model of India’s “cultural economy,” stating that the festival reflects the integration of spirituality with social life.
He announced an increase in the state government’s grant for the festival from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore. Over 200 artists participating in the Dhanu Jatra were also honoured with Rs 10,000 each.
The chief minister laid the foundation stone for a Rangamahal (theatre complex) to be built at a cost of around Rs 12.80 crore for the annual festival. He said the state government is taking steps to secure UNESCO recognition for Dhanu Jatra.
From the symbolic court of Kansa, Majhi also gave a call for corruption-free governance. Dhanu Jatra, which runs for 11 days, commemorates episodes from the life of Lord Krishna. The chief minister joined the celebrations on the seventh day of the festival.
