BARGARH: The 11-day tyrannical rule of King Kansa came crashing down amidst high drama on Monday with his nephew Krishna killing him. His death brings to an end the mass festival, Dhanu Yatra, that began with the coronation of King Kansa.Bargarh which had turned into the mythical city of Mathura with its citizens experiencing life back in time would return to its routine chores from Tuesday.Different places, settlements and rivers that were addressed by names adopted from the Mahabharata would now be known by their regular names _ river Jeera would no more be the Yamuna _ and the make-believe world of its citizenry would soon give way to the mundane realities of daily existence.Till Monday, from December 30, the entire Dhanu Yatra had brought with it a frenzy of activity in this western Odisha town. In the final act of the Yatra, Lord Krishna accompanied by brother Balaram entered the court of Kansa in a beautifully decorated chariot. He had come to the yatra, along with Balaram, at the invitation of King Kansa.In fact, the whole yatra which is designed as a plot to eliminate Krishna goes awry as the latter overcomes all impediments to free the people from the clutches of Kansa.The characters enact all possible roles to perfection till the final scene. What grips the people’s attention is Kansa losing his senses after being informed that Krishna is approaching his durbar to participate in the festival. Sensing end of his life, he tries to put a brave front. After a brief battle at his durbar the tyrant, bleeding all over, collapses. Soon after, an effigy of Kansa is burnt marking the end of his tyrannical rule.Lakhs of visitors, who participated in and witnessed the entire festival, would fondly remember the pleasant tyranny and wait for him till the next year. King Kansa is dead to return next year with the same fierce demeanour that he had been maintaining during this 11-day festival over the decades.Soon after the final enactment, Kansa left for Puri to seek forgiveness at the temple of Lord Jagannath for all his unholy utterances against Lord Krishna. He is slated to stay at the ‘mutt’ of Sankaracharya and will return after offering puja at the Jagannath temple.
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