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Naveen visits Puri, prays at Jagannath temple

Last Updated 17 May 2009, 11:23 IST

 Patnaik, however, did not enter the 12th century shrine but offered prayers while standing on the Grand Road outside the temple for a few minutes.

The chief minister also spent some time at the image of Patitapaban-- a smaller idol of the presiding deity-- placed at the Lion's Gate for those unable to enter the shrine for different reasons.

An elder sevayat of the shrine, Rabindra Pratihari explained that people who had lost a family member within a period of one year were not supposed to enter the temple.Patnaik had lost his mother Gyan Patnaik shortly before the elections.

"I have come to pray for the welfare of the people", the chief minister said.

Naveen's legendary father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik mostly launched his party's election campaigns from outside the Jagannath Temple at Puri.

Later, Patnaik visited Swargadwar on the sea-shore where both his father and mother were cremated. He offered floral tributes at Biju's 'samadhi' before returning to the state capital.

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(Published 17 May 2009, 11:20 IST)

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