Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared an article written by President Droupadi Murmu in which she reflects on her lifelong devotion to Lord Jagannath, recounting how faith in the deity has guided her through personal challenges and public life.
Sharing the President’s article on X, the Prime Minister said, “In a deeply personal reflection, Honourable President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji traces her lifelong devotion to Mahaprabhu Jagannath, from childhood memories to the spiritual experiences that have shaped her life.” He noted that President Murmu writes about the grandeur of the Rath Yatra and the faith that continues to guide her on her journey in the service of the people.
The article offers personal account of President Murmu’s spiritual connection with Lord Jagannath, beginning with her childhood in Uparbeda village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
President Murmu recalls growing up in an environment where prayers, hymns and discussions about Lord Jagannath were a part of daily life. During her school years, she regularly sang devotional songs dedicated to the deity and listened to stories narrated by her teachers about the magnificence of the Jagannath Temple in Puri and the divine significance of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
She said that her first visit to the Jagannath Temple after moving to Bhubaneswar as a student remains one of the most memorable experiences of her life. The grandeur of the temple and the divine presence of the deities, she says, left a lasting impression on her.
Reflecting on the annual Rath Yatra, President Murmu describes it as the most magnificent among the many festivals celebrated in Shree Kshetra, where Lord Jagannath, accompanied by Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshana Chakra, leaves the sanctum of the temple to travel to the Gundicha Temple, allowing devotees to receive His blessings.
The President said that Lord Jagannath has remained the guiding force through every phase of her life, helping her overcome hardships and giving her strength during difficult times. She describes herself as “His daughter” and says the deity has always been the source of her courage and hope.
Recalling the period when she was nominated as the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate for the office of the President of India in 2022, President Murmu said she prayed to Lord Jagannath to guide her in fulfilling the responsibilities of the nation’s highest constitutional office. Since she could not travel to Puri during the Rath Yatra that year, she visited the Jagannath Temple at Hauz Khas in Delhi on the morning of the festival before filing her nomination papers.
President Murmu also recounts praying to Lord Jagannath on her way to Parliament’s Central Hall to take the oath of office on July 25, 2022, saying she felt His divine presence throughout the ceremony.
She describes her first visit to Puri as President on November 10, 2022. As her motorcade reached the Grand Road, or Bada Danda, leading to the Jagannath Temple, she stopped her vehicle and walked barefoot for nearly two kilometres towards the shrine.
President Murmu recalls keeping her eyes fixed on the temple’s Neela Chakra and the sacred Patit Paawan Dhwaja while greeting devotees gathered along the route. Upon reaching the Lion Gate of the temple, she prostrated herself on the sacred Grand Road before entering the sanctum for darshan.
Describing the experience as one of profound spiritual bliss, she said that Lord Jagannath is the protector of humanity and the saviour of the helpless, whose ever-open eyes symbolise constant compassion and equality for all. She said this belief has inspired her commitment to serving every section of society without discrimination.
Concluding her reflection, President Murmu offers a prayer seeking Lord Jagannath’s blessings to strengthen her dedication to public service and to ensure peace, protection and prosperity for India and the world.
