Odisha sanctions additional ₹50 lakh for Bargarh's Dhanu Yatra, plans UNESCO heritage bid
Odisha Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj announced new support for the Dhanu Yatra on 29 December 2024.
Summary
The Dhanu Yatra of Bargarh, described as the world's largest open-air theatre, will get an additional ₹50 lakh for live broadcast, a dedicated website and related activities, Odisha Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj announced on 29 December 2024. Government aid for the festival had been raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore on the Chief Minister's direction. For the first time, about 170 artistes will receive an honorarium of ₹10,000 each. The National School of Drama will produce a documentary on the festival, and an expert committee will be formed to seek UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for it.
Key facts
- Announced
- 29 December 2024 by Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj
- Festival
- Dhanu Yatra, Bargarh; 'world's largest open-air theatre'
- Additional funds
- ₹50 lakh for live broadcast, website and related activities
- Government aid
- Raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore
- Artistes
- About 170 to get ₹10,000 each, for the first time
- Other steps
- NSD documentary; expert committee for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status
Practice MCQs 4 questions
The Dhanu Yatra, described as the world's largest open-air theatre, is held in which district of Odisha?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Bargarh
NIE/OrissaPOST/Ommcom: the Dhanu Yatra is held at Bargarh and is described as the largest open-air theatre in the world.
What honorarium will each of the about 170 artistes of the Dhanu Yatra receive for the first time, as announced on 29 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹10,000
NIE/OrissaPOST/Ommcom: about 170 artistes will receive ₹10,000 each.
Odisha government aid for the Dhanu Yatra was raised from ₹10 lakh to:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹1 crore
NIE/Ommcom: the aid was raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore; ₹50 lakh is the additional sum sanctioned on 29 December for broadcast and other activities.
Consider the following statements about the Odisha government's measures for the Dhanu Yatra announced on 29 December 2024: 1. The National School of Drama will produce a documentary on the festival. 2. An expert committee will work towards UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for the festival. 3. The additional ₹50 lakh is for building a permanent stage at Bargarh. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
OrissaPOST/Ommcom: NSD will make a documentary and an expert committee will seek UNESCO ICH status; the additional ₹50 lakh is for live broadcast, a dedicated website and related activities, not a permanent stage, so statement 3 is wrong.