Om Birla visits Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday visited Puri Jagannath Temple along with his family members and offered prayers for the prosperity of India.

Soon after reaching the Pilgrim City, the Lok Sabha Speaker visited the Special Circuit House and later was welcomed by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is Arabinda Padhee, Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida and Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh when he reached near the Singhadwara (Lion Gate).

At the outset, Birla and his family members he bowed before the Aruna Stambha (Sun Pillar) which is situated in front of the Lion Gate. Later, he entered the Sri Mandir and offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.

Apart from praying for himself, the Lok Sabha Speaker also offered prayers for the wellbeing and prosperity of the entire countrymen.

Union Education Minister Dharamendra Pradhan, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Lok Sabha MPs Subhashish Khuntia and Sambit Patra had accompanied the speaker to the 12th century shrine.

It is to be noted here that Birla came on an official visit to Odisha to inaugurate the National Conference of Chairpersons of the Committees on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of Parliament and State Legislatures in Bhubaneswar.

This is the first time since 1994 a national meeting of a parliamentary committee is being organized in Odisha where the Chairpersons of the legislative committees of all states and union territories are taking part in the conference that will conclude tomorrow.