Bhubaneswar, Jun 19 (PTI) Pahadpur in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been blanketed by foolproof security and decked up with flowers and traditional tribal paintings for President Draupadi Murmu’s visit to her in-laws’ village, where she would be joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
President Murmu began her two-day visit to Odisha on Friday by inaugurating five projects in her hometown Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district. Modi is scheduled to arrive in the state on Saturday for a series of events, including a visit to Pahadpur.
In a post on X, the prime minister said, “I will be in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, tomorrow. This visit will be noteworthy as Rashtrapati Ji will be joining the programme. Mayurbhanj is also the home district of the Honourable President, Droupadi Murmu Ji.
“Rashtrapati Ji and I will be in Pahadpur village, after which we will join the programme to mark two years of the present Odisha government. Development works worth over Rs 47,000 crore would either be inaugurated or their foundation stones would be laid,” he said.
President Murmu will receive PM Modi at her Pahadpur village in Mayurbhanj district, and they will offer prayers at sacred groves, Santhal Jahera and Ho Jahera, and pay obeisance at Gosani.
While Jahira is the place where the tribal Gods and Goddesses are worshipped, the communities pray to their forefathers at Gosani.
Damayanti Beshra, a scholar in the Santali language Ol Chiki, said, “It would be an unforgettable day for the tribals of Odisha. Both the President and PM will offer prayer at tribal sacred groves.
“They may adorn Santali cloth while entering Jahira. The visit of both the President and PM has made heads of tribals high,” said the Padma Shri recipient.
The president and the prime minister will also visit a school set up by Murmu in memory of her late husband, Shayma Charan Murmu, and her two sons — Laxman and Sipun.
Her husband and two sons passed away before Murmu became the first tribal President of India in 2022. The prime minister will pay floral tributes at the statue of Murmu’s late husband.
According to the schedule, they will also visit a Skill Centre.
The visit will highlight ongoing efforts to strengthen educational opportunities, skill development and socio-economic empowerment in tribal and rural regions, an official statement said.
As June 20 is the 68th birthday of Murmu, the people of Pahadpur have decorated the entire village with flowers and traditional tribal paintings to mark the occasion.
“The President had invited the PM to visit her village and Modi ji has fulfilled it,” said Mayurbhanj MP Naba Charan Majhi.
As part of the security arrangement for the visit, the state government has declared the venue a “no flying and no-drone” zone.
Later, both leaders will attend a meeting in Rairangpur to mark the BJP government’s second anniversary. The meeting will be addressed by both Murmu and Modi.
“Tomorrow’s meeting will be written in golden letters in the history of India. The country’s first tribal President and the longest serving PM will attend a function in Odisha’s Rairangpur,” said BJP state president and MP Manmohan Samal.
The meeting is significant as it is not held in the state capital, rather at a remote place like Rairangpur, Samal said, adding that there is an atmosphere of joy and festivity in Mayurbanjh.
Additional DG (law and Order), Sanjay Kumar, said a three-layer security arrangement has been put in place across Maturbhanj.
Apart from 120 battalions of police force, jawans of CRPF, BSF, SOG, along with commandos of NSG and SPG are deployed in Rairangpur, he said. One battalion comprises 30 personnel.
State police chief YB Khurania is monitoring the entire security arrangement. PTI AAM NSD
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