The Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department announced a financial grant of Rs 1 crore for the Bargarh Dhanu Yatra.
Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj chaired the meeting and finalised the decision.
The Dhanu Yatra festival will run in Bargarh from December 24, 2025, to January 3, 2026. In addition, the department approved an honorarium of Rs 10,000 each for nearly 200 artistes participating in the event. Moreover, officials planned to expand outreach by telecasting the festival live through LED screens in Odisha and other states, coordinated by the Odisha Paribar Directorate.
Officials also decided to construct Dhanu Yatra–themed welcome gates at major entry points of Bargarh town. Furthermore, special tourist buses from Bhubaneswar and Puri will operate during the festival to facilitate travel.
A dedicated website will provide complete information about Dhanu Yatra, including event videos, landmarks, hotels, parking areas, venue details, and GPS-based navigation support. Additionally, the site will host a digital quiz for students, and participants will receive digital certificates.
Minister Suraj directed officials to ensure smooth conduct of the festival with arrangements for security, fire safety, sanitation, emergency medical services, and administrative coordination. He emphasised that Dhanu Jatra represents Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. During the festival, Bargarh town transforms into ‘Mathura Nagari,’ Ambapali becomes ‘Gopapur,’ and the Jira river is referred to as the Yamuna. Finally, he assured that this year’s Dhanu Yatra will be celebrated in a grand and magnificent manner.
Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit, MLAs Sanat Kumar Gartia, Nihar Ranjan Mahanand, Irasis Acharya, Ashwini Kumar Sarangi, Barsha Singh Bariha, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Department Secretary Dr Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Special Secretary Deba Prasad Dash, Collector Aditya Goyal, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
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