Finance
On Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered prayers at tribal sacred sites in Pahadpur village, Mayurbhanj district, marking a significant cultural and ceremonial visit to the President’s home region.
The two leaders visited Gosani Peeth, as well as the Santhali and Ho Jaheras, which are sacred trees in tribal communities. The visit was conducted under strict security and away from the media spotlight.
President Murmu, who was already present in the area, welcomed Prime Minister Modi when he arrived. Local villagers gave the Prime Minister a traditional welcome that included drumbeats, floral greetings, and cultural tribal acts.
The President and Prime Minister first visited Gosani Peeth and then traveled to the Jaheras, where they participated in rituals and planted saplings as is traditional.
Damayanti Beshra, an Ol Chiki scholar, describes Jaheras as sacred groves where tribal deities are worshipped, whereas Gosani Peeth is associated with ancestor prayers.
“It was an unforgettable day for the tribals of Odisha. Both the President and the Prime Minister offered prayers at tribal sacred groves,” Beshra said.
As part of traditional customs, Murmu, Modi and members of their security detail were offered Santhali attire before entering the sacred groves located amid wooded surroundings.
The leaders also went to a school founded by President Murmu in remembrance of her late husband, Shyam Charan Murmu, and her two sons, Laxman and Sipun, who died before she took office as India’s first tribal President in 2022.
Modi paid floral tributes to a statue of Shyam Charan Murmu and spoke with children at the school and a skill center in Pahadpur. The dignitaries also visited an exhibition featuring tribal products.
The community was decked with flowers, tribal themes, and traditional artwork on mud walls, and inhabitants lined the streets to greet the two leaders.
Later, President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi left for Rairangpur, where they were scheduled to attend a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of the BJP government in Odisha.
