Odisha govt to provide Rs 1 crore to Bargarh Dhanu Jatra

Bhubaneswar: The Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department has decided to provide a financial grant of Rs 1 crore for the Bargarh Dhanu Jatra.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

The Dhanu Jatra festival will be held in Bargarh from 24th December 2025 to 3rd January 2026. Along with the grant, it has been decided to provide an honorarium of Rs 10,000 each to nearly 200 artistes participating in the festival. To ensure wider outreach, the event will be telecast live through LED screens. The Odisha Paribar Directorate will also arrange LED-screen live telecasts in various states outside Odisha.

It was further decided to construct Dhanu Jatra–themed welcome gates at major entry points of Bargarh town. Special tourist buses from Bhubaneswar and Puri to Bargarh will be operated during the festival.

A dedicated website will also be there to provide complete information about Dhanu Jatra, including event videos, major landmarks, hotels, parking areas, venue details and integrated GPS-based navigation support. A digital quiz will be hosted on the website to create awareness among students and digital certificates will be issued to participants.

Directing officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the Dhanu Jatra, Minister Suryabanshi Suraj emphasised arrangements related to security, fire safety, sanitation, emergency medical services and overall administrative coordination.

Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that the Dhanu Jatra represents the glorious journey of Odisha’s rich culture and heritage. During the festival, Bargarh town transforms into ‘Mathura Nagari’, the Ambapali area is named ‘Gopapur’ and the Jira river is referred to as the Yamuna river. The Minister stated that this year’s Dhanu Jatra will be celebrated in a grand, divine and magnificent manner.

Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit, Bijepur MLA Sanat Kumar Gartia, Attabira MLA Nihar Ranjan Mahanand, Bhatli MLA Irashis Acharya, Bargarh MLA Ashwini Kumar Sarangi, Padmapur MLA Barsha Singh Bariha, Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg,
Secretary, Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Special Secretary Deba Prasad Dash, Collector Bargarh Aditya Goyal and other senior officials attended the meeting.