Bargarh, Dec 4: The Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture has announced a grant of Rs 1 crore for the upcoming Dhanu Yatra festival in Bargarh. The decision was taken at a high‑level meeting chaired by Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

The festival will be held from December 24, 2025 to January 3, 2026.

As part of the arrangements, around 200 artists participating in the Yatra will be honoured with Rs 10,000 cash prize each. To ensure wider outreach, the festival will be broadcast live on LED screens across Odisha and in other states through the Odisha Paribar initiative.

Plans include constructing theme‑based gates at major entry points of Bargarh, operating special tourist buses from Puri and Bhubaneswar, and launching a dedicated website with festival details, hotel listings, parking information, GPS navigation, and even a digital quiz for students.


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The Minister directed officials to ensure comprehensive arrangements for security, fire services, sanitation, and medical aid. He emphasised that Dhanu Yatra is a celebration of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, with Bargarh symbolically transformed into Mathura, Ambapali into Gopapur, and the Jira river into the Yamuna.

The meeting was attended by MPs, MLAs, senior officials, and cultural department representatives, all pledging support for a grand and vibrant celebration.