Bargarh, Dec 2: Bhubaneswar Pradhan is set to return as Kansa in the 77th edition of Dhanuyatra, the renowned festival held in Bargarh.
Pradhan, who previously portrayed the character of the evil king in 1998, 1999, and again from 2017, secured the role through an audition conducted on Sunday. This year’s festival will take place from January 3 to January 13.
Hrushikesh Bhoi, who was initially chosen to play Kansa, has been removed from the role after allegations of bribery surfaced.
Pradhan expressed his excitement about reprising the iconic role once again and emphasized his commitment to delivering a fresh performance. “I have a month to prepare for Dhanuyatra. We will introduce new dialogues; new action sequences, and explores different mythological topics during our performances. Our goal is to entertain the audience and bring a new perspective to the play,” said Pradhan.
Dhanuyatra, known for its large-scale reenactment of the life of Lord Krishna, is one of the largest open-air theatre festivals in the world. The festival sees participants acting out various episodes from Hindu mythology, with the central focus on the battle between Kansa and Krishna.
Pradhan's return to the role of Kansa has generated much anticipation, with audiences eager to see how he will bring a new dimension to this iconic character in the upcoming edition of Dhanuyatra.
