Bhubaneswar: Celebrating the timeless spirit of Odisha’s rich heritage and tapestry of India’s cultural unity in diversity, ‘Mamu Gharaku Jatra’ (A Trip to Uncle’s Home), a 52-minute special documentary capturing the grandeur, and traditions of Baragada Dhanujatra was screened at a special function, here on Saturday.
The docu-drama was produced by Odisha’s leading digital media network, OdishaLIVE with support of Mahanadi Coalfields LImited (MCL). The documentary was directed by Suresh Patnaik, with Pranati Parida, Director of OdishaLIVE, serving as Co-producer.
The special screening and felicitation ceremony of ‘Mamu Gharaku Jatra’ in Bhubaneswar brought alive the extraordinary cultural legacy of 79 years of this world’s largest open-air theatre offering an immersive journey into the spectacular world of Dhanujatra, the epic tale of Dwapara Yuga between Lord Krishna and King Kansa.
The event was graced by Pradip Purohit, Member of Parliament from Baragada, as the Chief Guest, while noted Ollywood actor Anu Choudhury and Sureshwar Satapathy, Secretary of the Dhanujatra Mahotsava Samiti, joined as special invitees.
Addressing the gathering, Purohit said, ” Mamu Gharaku Jatra would achieve widespread recognition, reach audiences across the world and serve as a valuable resource for future filmmakers, researchers and historians seeking to understand the rich legacy of the festival.”
Welcoming the distinguished guests and participants, Nilambar Rath, CEO of OdishaLIVE and Producer of the documentary, highlighted the platform’s sustained commitment to documenting, preserving and promoting Odisha’s cultural heritage.
“Bargarh Dhanujatra is a remarkable expression of Odisha’s art, culture, heritage and folk traditions. Our endeavour is to take the extraordinary traditions, everyday life and untold cultural stories of Dhanujatra to audiences across India and around the world. We believe that preserving such living heritage is not merely about documenting the past; it is about inspiring future generations to appreciate, celebrate and carry forward the cultural richness of our country,” said Rath.
Bhubaneswar Pradhan, who portrayed the character of Maharaj Kansa in Bargarh Dhanujatra from 1998 to 2000, 2017 to 2020 and again in 2025, was specially honoured.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Bhabani Prasad Mahanty, Director of OdishaLIVE.
The globally premiered Mamu Gharaku Jatra is now available on the OdishaLIVE YouTube channel.
