Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu Saturday offered prayers to Lord Shiva at Lingaraj temple.
The President left Rajbhawan and went to the Lingaraj temple. After reaching the temple, she went to Bindusagar and washed her feet. From Bindusagar she walked to the Lingaraj temple on barefoot to have darshan of the deities and offered prayers.
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal accompanied the President. The President also interacted with the children present there.
An elaborate security arrangement was made inside and outside the temple in view of the President’s visit. Senior officers including Police Commissioner were present to ensure a smooth visit of the President.
The temple was beautifully decorated and traditional tribal dance, song and ‘sankirtan’ were organised to welcome the President. A large number of people were standing on both sides of the road to have a glimpse of the President.
Pandits of the temple said the President offered puja in the sanatorium of the temple and made ‘jalavisheka’ of Lord Lingaraj.
She also offered prayer at the temples of Ma Gouri, Ma Bhubaneswari, and Sindhi Vinayak in the Temple complex.
From there she left for National Rice Research Institute, Bidyadharpur in Cuttack. She is scheduled to inaugurate the second Indian Rice Congress at ICAR-National Rice Research Institute in Cuttack.
The President is scheduled to leave for Delhi after the CRRI programme later on Saturday.
UNI