Bhubaneswar/Puri: Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam arrived in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to attend Rath Yatra, the annual sojourn of the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
After landing at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here, the singer was visibly moved as he spoke to reporters about his spiritual connection to the state, dating back to the very beginning of his musical career. Long before his massive Bollywood chartbusters catapulted him to national fame, Sonu Nigam was a household voice in Odisha, having recorded hundreds of devotional songs (bhajans) dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
Reflecting on those early days, Nigam shared how those recordings remain t
he most cherished moments of his life: “The most memorable days of my life were when I used to sing eight to ten Odia bhajans in a single day. I have received immense love from the people of Odisha. Even though I have sung hundreds of bhajans, this is the very first time in my life that I am getting the opportunity to come here during Rath Yatra. I am extremely emotional, and it feels wonderful.”
He credited Pradeep Shetty for facilitating the trip, which he is undertaking alongside his sister, Meenal Nigam.
The singer pointed out that his bond with Lord Jagannath was forged well before his biggest Bollywood milestones. “When the massive hits of my life—like Sandese Aate Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin, or Mere Dholna—hadn’t even been released, Odia bhajans were already a vital part of my life. The days when I recorded those bhajans remain my absolute favourite memories.”
He expressed that his connection to the land feels older than his current lifetime. “I truly feel that in some past life, I must have been an Odia. That is why God has sent me here today. Looking forward to what will happen tomorrow… I am honestly on the verge of tears right now.”
Wrapping up his interaction with a resounding chant of ‘Jai Jagannath’, the legendary singer left for Puri to take part in the grand chariot festival.