The prime minister's visit to Pahadpur, the native village of President Murmu's late husband Shyam Charan Murmu, was conducted under unprecedented security measures and remained away from public media coverage. President Murmu, who had already reached the village, received the prime minister upon his arrival. Residents welcomed Modi with drumbeats, flower petals and traditional tribal dances in a ceremonial reception.
President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi first visited Gosani Peeth, a site associated with prayers offered to ancestors. They later walked to the Santhali and Ho sacred groves, places where tribal deities are worshipped, and planted saplings there. According to Damayanti Beshra, an Ol Chiki scholar, the occasion marked a memorable moment for the tribal communities of Odisha.
"As part of the customary ritual, President Murmu, Prime Minister Modi and members of their security team were presented with traditional Santhali attire before entering the sacred grove located amid trees," Beshra said. She described the day as unforgettable for the tribal people of Odisha, noting that both the President and the Prime Minister offered prayers at the sacred sites.
The two leaders later visited a school established by President Murmu in memory of her late husband Shyam Charan Murmu and her two sons, Laxman and Sipun. Shyam Charan Murmu and the couple's two sons passed away before Droupadi Murmu became India's first tribal President in 2022.
Prime Minister Modi paid floral tributes at the statue of Shyam Charan Murmu and interacted with students at the school and the Skill Centre in Pahadpur. President Murmu and the prime minister also visited an exhibition displaying tribal products.
The entire village was decorated with flowers, tribal motifs and traditional artwork painted on mud walls. Children and women lined the streets to welcome the two leaders, while large cut-outs and banners featuring President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi were installed across the village.
Following the visit, President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi departed for Rairangpur, where they are scheduled to participate in a programme commemorating the second anniversary of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Odisha. The visit underscored the importance of tribal traditions and cultural heritage while highlighting the symbolic connection between the country's highest constitutional office and the indigenous communities of eastern India.
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