Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was among lakhs of devotees, who offered prayers at Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri on the occasion of the New Year’s Day today.
Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty and Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patasani accompanied the Chief Minister during his prayers at the temple.
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After having darshan of the Lord in the 12th-century shrine, Patnaik came out waving to the people waiting outside to greet him.
“I prayed to Lord Jagannath for the well-being, peace and prosperity of the people of Odisha,” Patnaik told reporters.
Though there was a heavy rush at the temple, there had been no special arrangement for the chief minister.
“We took the chief minister via a separate way to the time keeping an eye that common devotees do not suffer,” said Sri Jagannath Temple chief administrator P K Jena.
Jena said the temple was opened to devotees at about 1.45 am today for smooth darshan as over 5 lakh people thronged the temple.