BHUBANESWAR: President of India Droupadi Murmu, on the third day of her Odisha visit that began on February 2, performed ancestral rituals and offered prayers at the revered Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri on February 4. Later, she inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple developmental projects in Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district, underscoring the Centre’s focus on inclusive growth and tribal welfare.
Upon her arrival in the pilgrim town, the President first conducted the traditional Pind Daan ceremony at Shvetaganga, a sacred site associated with ancestral rites. The ritual, deeply rooted in Hindu tradition, is believed to bring peace to the souls of departed ancestors. Following the ceremony, she proceeded to the 12th-century Sri Jagannath Temple, one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, to seek the blessings of Bhagwan Jagannath.
During her visit to the temple, President Murmu was accompanied by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. After the darshan, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration honoured the President with Khandua silk and a traditional Pattachitra painting. The artwork depicted the Dashavatara of Bhagwan Vishnu, with Bhagwan Jagannath at the centre, reflecting Odisha’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତି ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ଦ୍ରୌପଦୀ ମୁର୍ମୁ ଜୀଙ୍କ ସହିତ ପୁରୀ ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିରରେ ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତିଙ୍କୁ ଦର୍ଶନ କରି ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ଲାଭ କରିବାର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ମିଳିଲା । ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ସମସ୍ତ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରି ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ଉନ୍ନତିର ପଥରେ ଆଗେଇ ନିଅନ୍ତୁ ଏତିକି ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା ।🙏 pic.twitter.com/Fc6G9sMB1h
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 4, 2026
In view of the President’s visit, public darshan at the temple remained suspended until 10 am to facilitate heightened security arrangements and ensure the smooth conduct of temple rituals, including the Gopal Vallabh Bhog. Comprehensive security measures were put in place in and around the temple premises throughout the visit.
After completing her engagements in Puri, President Murmu departed for her native place, Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district, aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter. She is scheduled to attend a series of official programmes in the district over the next three days.
President Murmu Inaugurates, Lays Foundation Stones for Multiple Development Projects in Rairangpur
Later in the day, the President inaugurated the Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University Information Technology Campus and laid foundation stones for several key infrastructure and social development projects in Rairangpur. These include an AYUSH Hospital-cum-Ayurvedic College, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) campus, an Archery Centre, City Beautification and Drainage Upgradation projects, an Auditorium and Cultural Centre, a Girls’ Hostel, and a Deaddiction Centre.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said that the Government of India’s Purvodaya vision accords special priority to the development of eastern India, with Odisha and Mayurbhanj district emerging as major beneficiaries. She expressed confidence that the newly launched institutions and projects would contribute significantly to regional development and create new employment opportunities for local youth.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University Information Technology Campus and laid foundation stones of various projects including AYUSH Hospital cum Ayurvedic College, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology Campus, Archery Centre… pic.twitter.com/thRSz9I9ki
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 4, 2026
The President highlighted the Centre’s focused efforts toward the economic and social upliftment of tribal communities. She cited initiatives such as the provision of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for over 90 minor forest products under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, micro-credit support to tribal self-help groups, and low-interest loans for Scheduled Tribe women under the Tribal Women Empowerment Scheme.
She further noted improvements in health, education, connectivity and infrastructure in tribal-dominated areas. Programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri-JANMAN Yojana for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), electrification of remote regions, and expansion of 4G internet connectivity have accelerated holistic development in tribal areas, she said.
Emphasising inclusive growth, President Murmu said that the upliftment of the poorest sections of society is inseparable from the development of tribal communities. She urged people to actively avail themselves of government welfare schemes and spread awareness about them at the grassroots level.
The President concluded by stating that the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 can be realised only through collective efforts of the government and citizens, with local development forming the foundation for state and national progress.
