Puri: Overcome with emotion, President Droupadi Murmu stood before the sanctum sanctorum of Srimandir, her eyes welling up as she prayed to Lord Jagannath for the prosperity of the nation and the happiness of its people.
Accompanied by her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, President Murmu arrived in Puri to seek blessings from Mahaprabhu ahead of her other programmes in the town. Her arrival was marked by a grand welcome, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, and Puri MP Sambit Patra joining her. The President’s convoy reached the Grand Road at 10 a.m., where she stepped out of her vehicle to greet the assembled devotees before walking barefoot to the temple.
Speaking after her visit, President Murmu said, "I sought blessings of the Lord and prayed for the people of India, wishing for their wellbeing."
Inside the Srimandir, the President was received by the Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhi and Kaulik Panda of the temple administration. She was guided to the sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Gruha) where she offered lamps, prayed to Lord Jagannath, and sought blessings at the Mukti Mandap.
The temple was temporarily closed to the public to facilitate the President's darshan of the sibling deities -- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath. According to temple priest Raj Ratan Mahapatra, the President circumambulated the holy premises, visited the Bimala and Lakshmi temples, and spent quiet moments reflecting in the divine space. “No one is high or low before Mahaprabhu. Taking refuge in him is the greatest equalizer,” she reportedly said, her eyes brimming with emotion.
As a token of respect, she was presented with a portrait of Mahaprabhu, sacred Mahaprasad, and a piece of the deity’s cloth. In a touching moment, she invited the temple authorities to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, expressing her gratitude for their efforts in organizing the visit.
President Murmu’s decision to walk barefoot on the main road and meet devotees along the way was hailed as a gesture of humility. Senior Sevayat Gourahari remarked, “Her actions showed how grounded and generous she is. It was a unique sight to see a President breaking protocol to meet people and seek Mahaprabhu’s blessings.”
She spent around 30 minutes inside the temple.
Just as she was coming out of the temple, the President spotted a young girl, Priyansi Das Mahapatra, holding a photo of Lord Jagannath in his Nagarjuna Besha. She approached the child, took the photo, and encouraged her to excel in her studies. Priyansi’s mother, Rashmi Das Mahapatra, called it a moment of divine intervention. “The President is an inspiration for women and children like my daughter, who dream of meeting extraordinary people,” she said.
Later in the day, President Murmu attended the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya. She will be gracing the Navy Day festivities at Puri’s Blue Flag Beach.
The visit was marked by robust security arrangements. "We ensured that the president's visit was smooth and secure, with all necessary measures in place," a senior police official said.
Read More
