On the Grand Road of Puri

I remember many prayers and hymns dedicated to Shree Jagannath since my childhood. I felt happy when I sang Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s bhajans when I was studying in school and college. I felt very close to Mahaprabhu. I don’t sing bhajans these days. But I remember Mahaprabhu and hum his bhajans every day. I always feel the presence of Mahaprabhu close to me. He supports me in difficult times. To this day I hum a song composed by Bhakta Kabi Madhusudan Rao which reads: “Mahaprabhu is with me day and night; with this remembrance I will always worship Him with all my heart.”

By the time I reached an age where I could have some understanding of worldly things, I realized the greatness of Mahaprabhu Jagannath. Mahaprabhu Jagannath was often discussed at home. Such discussions often took place in our village as well. When I was studying in a village school, the prayer Ahe Nila Shaila written by Bhakta Salbeg was regularly recited. Our teacher often told us about Mahaprabhu Jagannath: There is a huge temple in Puri and no other temple is so magnificent! Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha along with his sister Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra are worshiped in the temple. Mahaprabhu Jagannatha has dark complexion and round eyes. Subhadra’s complexion is yellow and Balabhadra’s is white like a moon flower. Once you see the deities, you can never forget them.

Our teacher also said that Jagannatha is Mahaprabhu, His prasad is Mahaprasada, His temple is Bada Deula or Great Temple, His path is Bada Danda or Great Path, and His sea is Mahadādhi or the great ocean. Purushottam Kshetra, Puri is far from my native village Uparbeda in Mayurbhanj district. How do I get a chance to visit Puri? When I grew up, I went to Bhubaneswar and applied as a student in Unit-2 Girls High School. I started living in a hostel there. Then I got a chance to visit Puri, Bhubaneswar and Konark. The memory of my first darshan of Mahaprabhu Jagannath is still fresh in my mind. What an imposing temple, such great deities! Can they ever be forgotten?

Unique beauty

Can anyone forget Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s Ratha Yatra? It is said that thirteen festivals are celebrated during the 12 months of the year in Shree Kshetra. But the splendor of the Ratha Yatra, which begins on July 16, 2026, is unique. Devotees throng the temple throughout the year to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Once a year, however, Mahaprabhu himself leaves the temple and proceeds to the Gundicha temple along the Vishal Path and gives darshan to his devotees. On three magnificent chariots, the three deities accompanied by Chakraraja Sudarshana visit the Gundicha temple. They stay there for seven days and then return. This grand festival of Mahaprabhu is incomparable.

I have been a devotee of Mahaprabhu Jagannath since childhood. He has always been my most revered deity. He controls the ups and downs of my life. He is the source of my joys and sorrows. I have been through many hardships in my life. And Mahaprabhu always pulled me out of all those problems. I am His daughter after all.

When my candidature for the post of President of India was announced, I reverently remembered the name of Mahaprabhu. I prayed to Mahaprabhu, “You are taking me to such lofty heights. I am asking You to guide me every step of the way and be with me always.” He heard my prayer. He always answers my prayers. The Ratha Yatra festival will be celebrated when I had to stay in Delhi as a presidential candidate. So it was not possible for me to go to Puri. Early in the morning, on the day of Ratha Yatra, I went to Shree Jagannatha Temple in Hauz Khas, Delhi and had darshan of Mahaprabhu. My heart was filled with joy. He showered me with his blessings. Full of confidence, I submitted the nomination paper. I participated in the election campaign with great enthusiasm. I prayed to Mahaprabhu Jagannath as I went to the central hall of Parliament to take the oath of office on July 25, 2022. With His blessings, the ceremony went very well. At the time of my inaugural address as President, I felt as if he was right there with me.

However, my heart longed to go to Puri to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Days passed but I could not go to Puri. I thought: how can one get His darshan unless He gives it. I silently prayed to Him, “If I have done something wrong, forgive me, Mahaprabhu! But kindly call me to Puri, give me your darshan.” It is Mahaprabhu Bhaav or emotion. How could he not understand my emotions? A tour of Puri was soon planned. The date was 10th November 2022. After arriving at Puri, the karkada started towards Shree Mandir. When the carousel made it to Puri’s Bada Danda, an extraordinary feeling washed over me. Bada Danda belongs to Shree Jagannatha. Is there any protocol required here? Puri is known as Kshetra Raj, the king of all pilgrimage sites. Mahaprabhu is the God of gods. Without further ado, I stopped the car. When my car stopped, all the cars behind me stopped too. Before anyone could understand what was happening, I started walking barefoot after Bada Danda. Shree Mandir was about two kilometers away. Focusing my gaze on the Neel-chakra of the temple and the sacred Patit Paawan Dhwaj on the Shikhara, I proceeded forward.

As I walked, I also kept greeting the children, women, young and old people gathered on both sides of the road. My attention was fixed on Mahaprabhu. The moment I got close to the Sinh-Dwaar, the Lion Gate of the temple, I couldn’t keep still. By then I had forgotten myself. I lay in the dust of Bada Danda, the sacred path, and offered my humble pranams to Mahaprabhu. Then I entered the temple. When I reached the Garbh-Griha and got the darshan of the four deities, I was overwhelmed with divine bliss. Mahaprabhu is the protector of the universe. He is the savior of those who have been abandoned by all. He is always there to alleviate the sufferings of people all over the world. Therefore the lids of His round eyes never blink. For Him there is no difference between high and low. All are equal in His eyes and equality of all is His mantra. Blessed by His compassion, I devoted myself to the service of every section of society. Looking at Mahaprabhu Jagannath, the wide-eyed one, I folded my hands in reverence and prayed, “May Your blessings sustain my spirit of devotion to human service forever, O Mahabahu! Give your gracious protection to our land to the entire world, O Kripanidhi.” Having said this, I found myself immersed in Bhakti-Bhav.

The author is the President of India

Published – 16 Jul 2026 00:02 IST