Angul (Odisha) [India], July 6 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan paid obeisance and offered prayers at the Lord Jagannath Temple in Angul district on Saturday.
The Union Minister was accompanied by his wife as he sought blessings from the priest at the temple premises. 
Meanwhile, preparations are underway ahead of the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra on July 7. Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain said on Wednesday that President Droupadi Murmu will visit the state on the day of chariot pulling.
“As you know, this year is a very unique Rath Yatra in the sense that all three important rituals are falling on the same day. At the same time, it’s challenging and it is a matter of privilege as well. President Droupadi Murmu is also going to visit Puri on the day of the chariot pulling. All the concerned departments are in readiness, and we had several rounds of interdepartmental and coordination meetings,” the Puri DM told ANI earlier.
He further said that a 225-bed super specialty was set up at the two ends of the grand road for the Rath Yatra.
“Police deployment is massive. Around 28 parking places have been identified for people. Public amenities for people at transit points are also being planned so that people who are coming from different districts and different states can have a temporary resting place,” he added.
The Puri DM said that the chariot preparations are in final stage, and in a couple of days they are expected to be completed. The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The festival, celebrated with great fanfare from New Zealand to London and South Africa, encompasses the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple and culminates with the return journey after eight days.
The festival stretches from the day of Akshaya Tritiya (in April) and culminates with the return of the journey of the Holy Trinity to the Shree Mandir premises. (ANI)
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