Amapali residents turn vegetarian for Dhanu Yatra

SAMBALPUR: With Dhanu Yatra being underway in Bargarh the city, Amapali at the outskirts has became vegetarian.
Amapali is transformed into Gopapur right through the yatra.

Though there is no restriction at the intake of non-vegetarian food as such, people believe that since Lord Krishna and Balaram keep in Amapali right through the 11-day yatra, citizens will have to chorus from having non-vegetarian food as a mark of respect to them.

Sushil Mohapatra, the core committee member of the Dhanu Yatra organizing committee stated, "There has been such a tradition at Amapali since 1947. People selling mutton, fish, chicken and other non-vegetarian items here keep their shops shut during the festival."

The idea of Dhanu Yatra has been borrowed from Krishna Leela and Mathura Vijay. With the start of the competition, the small the city of Bargarh is transformed into Mathura and the Jeera river, which flows alongside town, into Yamuna. The balya leela of young Krishna is enacted in Gopapur. The enactment comprises vastra haran, kalia dalan, killing of demon warriors like Putuna, Sakata, Truna, Baka and Dhenu. The enactment at Gopapur ends at the 9th day of the yatra when Lord Krishna and Balaram arrive at Mathura accompanied through Akrura, a minister of Kansa, to participate in Dhanu Yatra.

Mohapatra stated if any person comes to Amapali right through Dhanu Yatra, s/he'll be transported to mythological Gopapur with graffiti on balya leela scribbled at the walls of every space here. It is assumed that Lord Krishna and Balaram visit the entire homes of Gopapur. The devotees pay obeisance to the gods.