Instead of vehicle, President Droupadi Murmu walks up to Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri

On her Odisha visit, President Droupadi Murmu visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Thursday. Continuing with her tradition, President Droupadi Murmu was seen walking up to the holy temple instead of covering the distance by opting for a vehicle.

Accompanied by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, the President alighted from her motorcade and walked along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to reach the Srimandir.

During her visit to the Jagannath Temple in 2022, President Droupadi Murmu had similarly walked for about one km on the Grand Road before offering her prayers for the well-being of the people of the nation.

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The President performed rituals inside the temple and paid her obeisance to Lord Jagannath. "I prayed for the well-being and prosperity of all citizens across the state and the country before Lord Jagannath," the President stated in her address to the media.

A large crowd had gathered along the road to welcome President Droupadi Murmu and her gesture of walking to the temple touched many hearts.

“I cannot express my honour for the President, who despite her position as the First Citizen of India, walked to the Jagannath Temple as any ordinary citizen,” stated Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

“The President walked up the Baisi Pahacha (twenty-two steps), bowed her head at the Aruna Stambha, and offered her prayers to Lord Jagannath while performing aarati by her own hands. She also sought blessings of the Brahman Mahsabha and spent about 10 minutes before the Bimala Temple and the Laxmi Temple,” a priest accompanying President Droupadi Murmu said.

After paying her respects at the temple, the President is scheduled to attend the 75th Foundation Day and Platinum Jubilee celebration of the Gopabandhu Ayurveda College.

Following this, she will return to Puri Raj Bhavan at 12 PM for lunch before attending the Navy Day celebrations as the chief guest of the event.

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As part of her five-day visit to Odisha, President Murmu is scheduled to attend the 40th Convocation Ceremony of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar tomorrow and inaugurate the new Judicial Court building in Bhubaneswar the same day.