Veteran jatra artist dies at 71; family blames loud DJ music

Kendrapada: Devi Prasad Rath, a renowned Jatra artist from Jagatsinghpur district, died at his home in Paradipgarh village early Wednesday morning aged 71. His family claims he suffered a fatal heart attack due to the loud DJ music played during Tuesday night’s Kartik Purnima celebrations.Rath’s career in Jatra, a popular folk theatre form, spanned five decades. He performed in over 20 plays, earning acclaim for his roles in productions like “Jaga Das Gaon Ku Ferila,” “Jail Tiger,” “Asuchi Sandha,” and “Prem Samaj.”His journey in theatre started in 1971 with the Binapani Dramatic Club in his village. He later joined the famous Tarapur Jatra troupe and in the 1990s became part of the Tulashi Gana Natya troupe.“We are shocked on the news of his death. All shops were shut in Paradipgarh and its nearby areas to mourn his death,” said Sriballava Kar, a social worker from Paradipgarh.Dr. Bani Samant of Paradipgarh said, “The people here see Devi as a man who brought laurels to a small village and the entire state with his contributions in the fields of entertainment.”Born in 1954 in Paradipgarh, Rath is survived by his wife and a son. His death was condoled by prominent figures, including Paradip MLA Sampad Chandra Swain, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, and Paradip municipality chairman Basant Biswal.