TV
J.K. Pradhan, a proud personnel of the Indian Armed Forces and currently serving with the Border Security Force (BSF), has long maintained a spiritual connection with Lord Jagannath. Every year during the famous Rath Yatra, he makes it a point to visit Puri and seeks the blessings of the Mahaprabhu along with His siblings—Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Pradhan had previously taken part in the high-profile ‘Operation Sindoor ’, a mission known for its strategic importance to national security. However, this year, amid the tense situation due to the ongoing conflict, he feared that he might not be able to make it to Puri for the annual rituals.
Battling uncertainty, he prayed fervently to Lord Jagannath , seeking divine intervention and strength for the country.
His prayers, it seems, were answered swiftly. India achieved success in the battle in a short span of time, and peace was restored. As a result, J.K. Pradhan rushed to Puri at the earliest to fulfill his vow. Today, he was seen emotionally bowing before the Lord on the Grand Road (Bada Danda), overwhelmed with gratitude.
“It was a well-planned operation. I have shared this with my officers and sub-ordinates that Lord Jagannath will protect everyone. But it was our duty to play a crucial role as we were guarding the borders. We had forgotten thirst and hunger during the crucial times of Operation Sindoor,” said Pradhan.
“Only after the completion of the operation, we got orders that we could return home. It was then that I decided to come back. I feel lucky to have darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the auspicious occasion of Snana Purnima,” said Pradhan.
When the terrorists killed innocent tourists in Kashmir, not only in India, it hurt people across the world. “I could not visit the spot where the incident occurred, but I will visit the place. India’s stand and weapons that were not tested were used during the Operation Sindoor. When posted at the border, I wanted that Pakistan should be taught such a lesson that it will not forget ever,” said Pradhan.
According to Pradhan, he always comes to get a darshan of the deities during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri.
“This year, I thought that Operation Sindoor would continue for more days, and I could not visit Puri. However, I feel blessed that the operation concluded successfully and I got the opportunity to have the darshan of the deities today,” he concluded.
