[Watch] Welcome To Puri: Jagannath Temple Priest Raps To Bring Back Tourists

Puri: Singhari Rajesh Kar aka Rapper Rajesh has come up with a new song, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, to invite tourists back to Puri.

Rajesh hails from a servitor family at Dolamandapa Sahi in Puri and is himself a priest at the Jagannath temple. He is one of those engaged in the Singhari Seva and Shri Anga Lagi Seva rituals of the sibling deities.

“I am a servitor in Jagannath temple. Along with this precious service, I also wanted to do something new,” Rajesh said.

The rapper said he was moved by the plight of the people of Puri during the pandemic and decided to use his talent to try to change the situation.

“Due to the pandemic, the economy of Puri went down. Many people are not even getting food to survive. Even businessmen have faced huge losses. Though the COVID cases are falling, tourists are still not coming in fear,” Rajesh said.

“We want more devotees and tourists in Puri so that the town’s economy can be revived. Puri will look more beautiful with the footfall of more devotees. I have put in a little effort to invite them through this song,”