President Droupadi Murmu to Visit Hometown Mayurbhanj on Feb 29

Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu is set to visit her hometown Mayurbhanj in Odisha on February 29th. During her visit, she will offer prayers at the Maa Kichakeswari temple in Khiching, around 150 km from Baripada. Sources reveal that she will spend approximately 30 minutes at the revered, offering prayers and witnessing the aarti ceremony between 10:10 am and 10:40 am.

The temple, dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, holds historical significance, having been rebuilt in the early 1940s by the ruler of Mayurbhanj. Originally constructed over 1200 years ago by members of the Bhanja dynasty, the temple’s architectural brilliance and intricate carvings on chlorite make it a notable landmark in the region.

The temple committee extended the invitation to President Murmu on December 28 last year, and since then, preparations to welcome her have been underway.

This visit marks President Murmu’s third trip to her hometown since assuming office in July 2022. Notably, in November 2023, she inaugurated an Eklavya Model Residential School at Kuliana and attended the 36th Annual Conference and Literary Festival of All India Santali Writers’ Association in Baripada. Earlier in May of the same year, she graced the convocation ceremony of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University and visited the Similipal Tiger Reserve.