President Murmu walks 1 km to Jagannath temple

TIL Desk/National/Odisha/ Indian’s first citizen President Droupadi Murmu Thursday created history by walking about 1 km on the Grand Road to the 12th century Lord Jagannath Temple where she offered prayers for the wellbeing of the nation.  The temple was closed to the common people from 10.30 am to 1 pm in view of Murmu’s visit but hundreds of devotees who had lined up on both sides of the road greeted her as she walked past them.

 Murmu, who hails from a tribal community in Mayurbhanj district, touched the Aruna Stambha, the 16 -sided 34 feet tall monolithic chlorite stone pillar in front of the Lion’s Gate (Singhadwara) of the temple and knelt down before the gate. She also knelt down before the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balaram in the sanctum sanctorum in obeisance.

The president, who arrived in Bhubaneswar earlier in the day, surprised the security personnel accompanying her as she stopped her carcade at Balagandi Chhak and walked down to the temple like a common devotee. She kept both her hands raised invoking Lord Jagannath and also waved to the waiting people.