New Delhi [India], July 16 : President Droupadi Murmu has shared a deeply personal account of her lifelong devotion to Lord Jagannath, describing the deity as her constant source of strength and guidance through life's challenges.
The President penned a letter on the occasion of Ratha Yatra.
Recalling cherished childhood memories, her first darshan in Puri, and the emotional barefoot walk along the Bada Danda after assuming office as President, she said she has always felt the divine presence of Mahaprabhu Jagannath and remains committed to serving the nation under His blessings.
In the article titled "On the Grand Road of Puri," the President recalls her childhood memories of singing bhajans dedicated to Lord Jagannath and describes how her faith in Mahaprabhu has remained a constant source of strength throughout her life.
Sharing an excerpt from the article on X, the President wrote: "May Your blessings forever sustain my spirit of dedication to the service of the people, O Mahabahu! Provide your kind protection to our country and the entire world, O Kripanidhi."
The article traces President Murmu's association with Lord Jagannath from her early years in Odisha, where she grew up listening to stories about the deity and learning about the significance of the Jagannath Temple, the annual Rath Yatra and the sacred Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Puri.
Recalling her first visit to Puri as a student, the President writes that the memory of her first darshan of Lord Jagannath remains vivid and describes the temple and the deities as unforgettable.
She also highlights the unique significance of Rath Yatra, noting that while devotees visit the temple throughout the year, it is during the annual festival that Lord Jagannath, along with Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Sudarshan, comes out of the temple to bless devotees during the journey to the Gundicha Temple.
The President further recounts the period when she was nominated for the office of the President of India in 2022, saying she prayed to Lord Jagannath for guidance and strength. She recalled offering prayers at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Delhi's Hauz Khas on the day of Rath Yatra before filing her nomination papers and later feeling the deity's presence during her oath-taking ceremony as President.
President Murmu also reflects on her visit to Puri in November 2022 after assuming office. She describes an overwhelming spiritual experience upon reaching the Bada Danda, where she stopped her motorcade and walked barefoot towards the Jagannath Temple with her eyes fixed on the temple's Neel Chakra and Patit Paawan Dhwaj.
Describing the moment she entered the temple and had darshan of the deities, the President writes that she was immersed in divine bliss and reiterates her belief that Lord Jagannath belongs to all people, irrespective of social distinctions.
Concluding the article with a prayer for the nation and humanity, President Murmu writes, "May Your blessings forever sustain my spirit of dedication to the service of the people, O Mahabahu! Provide your kind protection to our country and the entire world, O Kripanidhi." She says the prayer reflects her commitment to serving every section of society under the blessings of Lord Jagannath.
The article has been written on the occasion of the annual Rath Yatra, one of the most significant festivals associated with Lord Jagannath in Puri.
During the festival, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, is taken in grand chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Lakhs of devotees gather to pull the towering chariots, believing it brings divine blessings and spiritual merit.
This year's Rath Yatra - the 149th Rath Yatra - began on July 16, and the nine-day festival will conclude with the Bahuda Yatra on July 24. The deities are scheduled to ceremonially re-enter the Jagannath Temple on July 27.