Puri: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited Srimandir here on the New Year’s Day.
He reached the Lions’ Gate of Srimandir at 12.13 pm. Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty, Brahmagiri MLA Sanjay Das Burma, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief PK Mohapatra, Inspector General of Police (central) Soumendra Priyadarshi, Puri Collector Jyoti Prakash Das, superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi and former chairman of city’s municipality Jayanta Sarangi welcomed the Chief Minister.
To mark the auspicious visit, the SJTA presented Patnaik a Khandua Pata.
The Chief Minister, however, did not enter into the shrine due health reasons, said sources. He paid obeisance to Lord Patitapaban at the Lions’ Gate.
Patnaik greeted people on the occasion and wished for their happiness, peace and prosperity.
He also visited the memorial of his father and late chief minister Biju Patnaik at Swargadwar cremation ground near the beach. He offered floral tributes to the late leader before leaving for Bhubaneswar.