Pahadpur village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been transformed with stringent security measures, vibrant floral arrangements, and traditional tribal artwork ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to her late husband’s ancestral home. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to join her at the village on Saturday.
The President kicked off her two-day tour of Odisha on Friday by inaugurating five development projects in Rairangpur, her hometown in Mayurbhanj district. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi is set to land in the state on Saturday for a series of events, which features the high-profile halt at Pahadpur.
Taking to his social media platform 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 in the post.
President Murmu is slated to welcome the Prime Minister to Pahadpur, where the two leaders will visit the sacred tribal groves of Santhal Jahera and Ho Jahera to offer prayers, alongside paying respects at the ancestral site of Gosani.
While Jahira is a sacred ground for worshipping tribal deities, Gosani is the dedicated space where communities honour their ancestors.
Damayanti Beshra, a scholar in the Santali language Ol Chiki, “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.
Additionally, the two leaders will visit a local school founded by President Murmu in loving memory of her late husband, Shyam Charan Murmu, and her two sons, Laxman and Sipun.
Her immediate family members – husband and two sons – passed away prior to her historic election as India’s first tribal President in 2022. During the visit, the Prime Minister will pay floral respects 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.
With June 20 marking President Murmu’s 68th birthday, the residents of Pahadpur have enthusiastically adorned their village with traditional paintings and fresh flowers to celebrate the milestone.
“The President had invited the PM to visit her village and Modi ji has fulfilled it,” said Mayurbhanj MP Naba Charan Majhi.
To ensure maximum safety for the VVIPs, local authorities have officially designated the entire area as 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.
Samal pointed out the deep political and social significance of holding such a major event in a remote area like Rairangpur rather than the state capital, noting that an atmosphere of pure celebration has gripped Mayurbhanj.
Detailing the security arrangements, Additional DG (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar stated that a multi-layered security deployment has been done across the Mayurbhanj district.
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.
