Odisha CM Leads Cleanliness Drive In Puri Ahead Of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra

Puri: Ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and sibling deities, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi led a cleanliness drive on the Bada Danda in the pilgrim town of Puri on Saturday.

Armed with a broom, the Chief Minister took part in the cleanliness drive and swept the grand road near the 12th century shrine.

Majhi was accompanied by Deputy CMs K V Singh Deo and Pravati Parida. Several other Ministers, MLAs and leaders also participated in the programme.

Describing cleaning as a sacred act, the Chief Minister told reporters that the state government decided to undertake the cleanliness drive to keep the Bada Danda clean for the mega Rath Yatra festival on Sunday when the Lords will embark upon their nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple.

The initiative is aimed at spreading awareness among people about the importance of cleanliness. The pilgrim town needs to be kept clean as lakhs of people from across the country and abroad will throng Puri to witness Rath Yatra, he said.

A host of other leaders and officials joined the drive undertaken from the Bada Danda near Singhadwara to Saradha Bali near Gundicha Temple.