President Ram Nath Kovind offers prayer at Sri Jagannath temple, donates Rs 1 lakh for temple development

The President arrived at the Puri helipad at about 9.10 am amid tight security and was escorted to Sri Jagannath temple.

Gajapati Dibyasingh Dev the Chairperson of the temple body as well as the first servitor of lord, Sri Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Dr.Krishan Kumar, District Collector Samarth Verma, Superintendent of Police K. Vishal Singh and ADG Yashwant Jethwa accorded a warm welcome to the President on his arrival at the temple gate.

Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb presented "Khandua Pata" a traditional special silk cloth used for religious purposes to the President.
He was escorted to the main temple garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) by his family priest and officials.

The President and his family members offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra, seeking blessings of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine

He also had darshan of devi Vimala and Mahalaxmi in their separate temples located inside the temple complex. He bowed to pundits sitting on Mukti mandap reciting hymns.

In the main temple Hundee, President dropped an envelope, Temple chief administrator Dr. Kumar said.

Mr. Kovind interacted with Dr. Kumar over many practices performed in this 12th century temple right from daily hoisting of flag on Nilachakra to daily bhog and many other things relating to amenities being provided to devotees, informed Dr.Kumar.

The chief administrator said the President was happy to see the upcoming massive reformations into the temple.

A pattachitra of Trinity was presented to President Ramnath Kovind by the temple administration.

The President was overwhelmed to see the signature of his father on the traditional pilgrim register maintained by his family panda .

A photocopy of his father's signature was presented to the president, the temple Chief Administrator said.

After about 45 minutes the President and his family came out of the temple. He allowed a photo session for journalists and waived at the crowd.

For some time he looked at the heritage and security corridor being developed around the Sri Jagannath temple

Mr Kovind donated Rs 1 lakh to the temple administration for the development of the temple.

The temple and its surroundings reflected a new look to him as during his first visit in 2018 heritage and security corridor projects were not initiated.

The President went straight to the helipad and flew to Sun temple at Konark. The route of the President’s carcade from the helipad to Sri Mandir was barricaded and a large number of police and security personnel were deployed .

Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal and Union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan accompanied the President.

On arrival at Konark helipad the president went to the Sun Temple along with his family and appreciated the magnificent artistic skill displayed on stones by the Odia artisans eight hundred years ago.

He watched a short documentary film on the Sun Temple in the Interpretation hall and planted tree saplings.

They had lunch in the Yatri Niwas and took rest. At about 4.20 pm he departed for Bhubaneswar in a helicopter.

Over 40 platoons of police and security personnel besides 250 officers were deployed to ensure security of the president.
The Jagannath Temple was cleared of all devotees one hour before the president's visit. Except servitors on duty, no one was allowed in the temple.

Prior to the President's visit DIG J N Pankaj and ADG Yashwant Jethwa, after discussions with the SP Kanwar Vishal Singh, had chalked out security arrangements during the President's visit to Puri and Konark.

The routes from helipad to Sri Mandir at Puri and from Konark helipad to the Sun Temple were heavily fortified and normal traffic was stopped on these routes.