President Droupadi Murmu shares deep spiritual bond with Mahaprabhu Jagannatha in poignant reflection

PURI, July 16, 2026 – President Droupadi Murmu has shared a deeply personal and emotional account of her lifelong devotion to Mahaprabhu Jagannatha, describing him as the fountainhead of her joys and sorrows.

Growing up in the village of Uparbeda in the Mayurbhanj district, her childhood was filled with prayers, hymns, and stories of the grand temple in Puri. She fondly recalled reciting the sacred prayer Ahe Nila Shaila during her school days and dreaming of the day she would finally get to visit the historic town, a milestone she eventually achieved after moving to Bhubaneswar for her education.Her spiritual connection deepened during major milestones in her life, particularly when her candidature for the Presidency of India was announced.

Unable to travel to Puri at the time due to election campaigns, she sought blessings at the Shree Jagannatha Temple in Hauz Khas, Delhi, feeling the divine presence during her official oath-taking ceremony on July 25, 2022. The President emphasized that her faith has consistently pulled her out of deep hardships, reinforcing her self-identity as a daughter of the almighty.

The culmination of her spiritual journey took place on November 10, 2022, during an official visit to Puri. Overwhelmed by emotion upon reaching the Bada Danda, the grand road leading to the temple, President Murmu chose to break standard security protocols. She ordered her car to stop, stepped out, and walked barefoot for nearly two kilometers toward the shrine while greeting the gathered public.

The journey concluded with her offering a humble Pranam in the dust of the sacred path and experiencing divine bliss inside the Garbh-Griha, where she prayed for the welfare, equality, and protection of the entire nation.