Bhubaneswar: It was a breezy summer evening and the Odisha Raj Bhawan was all decked up to formally welcome the new Governor.
The hall inside the Raj Bhawan was jam-packed, mostly with mediapersons and politicians. Minutes before the oath-taking ceremony, a group of ladies hurriedly made their way into the hall and quickly settled at whatever empty chairs they could find.
As the crowd thinned down after ceremony, a lady in the second-last row of the hall kept sitting for some time, flashing a smile.
“This is my first visit to Odisha and I am directly inside Raj Bhawan,” she said, unable to hide her excitement.
The lady, Kiran is the youngest sister of the new Governor of Odisha Ganeshi Lal, who came all the way from Shillong to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
In the front row of the same hall, a small crowd of almost 12 people surrounded another lady, who looked both proud and emotional.
“I can’t express how happy I am. I have been here earlier with my husband and I really like this place,” said Sushila Devi, the first Lady of Odisha.
On Tuesday, the entire family of the Governor – his children, sisters, grandchildren – were in Raj Bhawan to witness the moment. For most, it was their first visit to Odisha, a trip they will cherish forever.
While the younger ones indulged in selfie-time, the elders discussed the ceremony in detail. Some started making tour plans around the city.
So, according to the First Family, what is the best part of the Raj Bhawan? “I am in the process of settling in. Honestly, I haven’t seen the entire Raj Bhawan as yet,” signed off the First Lady with a smile.
