Bhubaneswar: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tuesday said that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) event is an opportunity for Odisha to showcase its rich cultural heritage and tradition before the world.
PBD, a three-day event beginning in Bhubaneswar Wednesday, is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the central government and reconnect them with their cultural roots.
Amid tight security, Jaishankar accompanied by his wife visited the famous 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark and the Shree Jagannath temple at Puri.
“Delighted to visit the magnificent Sun Temple in Konark today. A testimony to our heritage and creativity, Konark is a must-visit for all our Pravasi friends visiting Bhubaneshwar over the coming days,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
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He also posted two pictures in the backdrop of the famous Konark wheels.
Later, the minister visited the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and offered prayers to the deities of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
He spent around 40 minutes inside the temple and interacted with the priests and servitors regarding the temple and the deities.
“I am blessed to have ‘darshan’ of the Lord Jagannath before the beginning of the PBD event in Bhubaneswar. The PBD is being organised in Odisha for the first time. We have made all attempts along with the Odisha government. This is an opportunity for Odisha to showcase before the entire world and get focus in the global map,” he said.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bhubaneswar on the occasion of the PBD.
He said the delegates coming to attend the PBD event may visit the Shree Jagannath temple in Puri.
Puri SP Vineeth Agarwal, who accompanied Jaishnakar to the temple, said that the external affairs minister will visit Raghurajpur, village of Patachitra artists. He will also go to Dhauli Peace Pagoda before reaching Bhubaneswar, the SP said.
Non-resident Indians have started arriving in Bhubaneswar to attend the PBD.
PTI
