Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday took part in the iconic Dhanu Jatra festival in Bargarh, stepping into the symbolic court of demon king Kansa to present an account of his government&rsquo;s development initiatives for the district.
Riding an elephant, the chief minister arrived at the &lsquo;Darbar&rsquo; of Kansa, a central character in the annual festival that reenacts the defeat of Kansa by Lord Krishna. During the theatrical exchange, the ruler of Mathura asked Majhi about governance and development in his kingdom. Bargarh is traditionally portrayed as Mathura during the festival.
Majhi responded by outlining 123 development projects worth ₹1,362 crore that have been launched in the district. He also announced four additional projects with a combined outlay of about ₹380 crore.
According to the chief minister, foundation stones have been laid for 85 projects costing ₹980.58 crore, while 38 projects valued at ₹382.26 crore have already been inaugurated. He also highlighted women-focused welfare measures, stating that over 3.41 lakh women in Bargarh have benefited from the Subhadra Yojana, receiving ₹10,000 annually.
Majhi further said that during the 2024&ndash;25 kharif and rabi seasons, paddy procurement from more than 2.41 lakh farmers reached nearly 13.99 lakh metric tonnes. Payments and input assistance to farmers totalled ₹4,338 crore.
The symbolic court responded with approval, reflecting the festival&rsquo;s tradition of blending satire, mythology and contemporary issues.
Among the new projects announced were a sewage treatment plant on the Jira river, a vending zone at Hatpada, a modern bus terminal and an inland water reservoir at Grindola. These initiatives together are expected to cost around ₹380 crore.
Addressing the public later, Majhi described Dhanu Jatra as a living example of India&rsquo;s cultural economy, where spirituality and social life intersect. He announced an increase in the state grant for the festival from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore and said over 200 participating artists would be honoured with ₹10,000 each.
The chief minister also laid the foundation stone for a Rangamahal for the festival, to be built at a cost of approximately ₹12.80 crore, and said efforts were underway to secure UNESCO recognition for Dhanu Jatra. From the symbolic court of Kansa, he also issued a call for integrity in public life and a stand against corruption.

Odisha CM briefs ‘Kansa’ on ₹1,362 crore projects

Majhi joins Dhanu Jatra in Bargarh, lists development works from Kansa’s court

Odisha CM briefs ‘Kansa’ on ₹1,362 crore projects

Majhi joins Dhanu Jatra in Bargarh, lists development works from Kansa’s court

December 31, 2025 | 19:02 IST