Berhampur: President Droupadi Murmu offered prayers at the Dhabaleswar temple located on the seashore at Golabandh in Ganjam district early on Wednesday morning on the last day of her two-day visit to the district. Murmu, who spent the night at Army Air Defence College, Golabandh, reached the ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, around 5.30 am by walking amid tight security and spent around half an hour in the temple. She performed parikrama and rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum.To our surprise, she herself performed the abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Lord with milk and panchamruta. She also chanted Gayatri and Mahamrityunjay mantras, said Shankar Rana, the priest, who was present in the temple along with Samir Rana, another priest.“We only assisted the President to perform puja. She herself performed all the rituals. She also performed arati and meditated for about 5 minutes,” he said. The temple, which opens around 4 am, was opened at 3.30 am on Wednesday, he said.After reaching Berhampur, the President went to Taptapani, a popular tourist place in Ganjam, famous for the sulphuric-rich hot spring. At Taptapani, she performed rituals at Maa Kandhuni Devi temple and Nilakantheswar temple. She prayed for peace, prosperity and well-being of all, she said on her official X handle.Security was tightened on the temple premises for the visit of President, said SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M. She left Berhampur in the same special train “President Special” on which she arrived at Berhampur railway station. During her departure, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and several others were present at the railway station.
