Bargarh: The world famous Bargarh Dhanu Yatra will be held from January 12 to 22, 2027 as decided in a meeting of the advisory and executive committees of the Dhanu Yatra Mahotsav Samiti today.

The meeting, chaired by Bargarh District Collector and Samiti president Aditya Goyal, reviewed the festival’s financial accounts for 2025-26 and discussed preparations for the upcoming 78th edition of the Dhanu Yatra.

Another decision was taken regarding the selection of the actor to portray demon king Kansa. The selection process will be completed within the next 15 days.

According to information shared at the meeting, the festival committee had a surplus fund of ₹2,13,31,239 at the end of the 2024-25 financial year, while total expenditure for 2025-26 stood at ₹3,50,87,816.

All committees and their conveners will be required to submit detailed expenditure statements to the Samiti within 30 days of the conclusion of the upcoming Dhanu Yatra.

As per a resolution in the meeting, the selection process for the actor, who will portray Kansa, will follow transparent, rational and culturally appropriate procedures.

Officials and public representatives shared their suggestions in the meeting to make the internationally renowned cultural festival more attractive, well-organised and grand in scale.

The annual Dhanu Yatra transforms Bargarh into a vast open-air theatrical stage, recreating episodes from the life of Lord Krishna, with the town of Bargarh representing Mathura and nearby Ambapali symbolising Gopapura.

Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit, Bargarh MLA Ashwini Sarangi, Attabira MLA Nihar Ranjan Mahananda, Municipality Chairperson Kalpana Majhi, SP Ravi Narayan Satpathy were among those present. Senior officials from various departments and members of the festival committee also attended the meeting.