Baripada, Feb 28: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday began her four-day visit to Odisha by offering prayers at the Maa Kichakeswari temple at Khiching in Mayurbanj district, officials said.

Accompanied by her daughter Itishree Murmu, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das and Union minister Bisheswar Tudu, among others, the President visited the eighth-century temple at Khiching.

President Murmu performed ‘aarti’ before Goddess Kichakeswari, worshipped in the form of Chamunda or Kali, the presiding deity of the region. She also partook ‘prasad’ on banana leaves by sitting on the floor of the temple, sources said.

On the way to the temple, hundreds of school-children waved flags and tribals greeted the President with their traditional music and dance.

Earlier in the afternoon, President Murmu arrived at Khiching from Jharkhand's Ranchi on a special helicopter of the Indian Air Force. Her helicopter landed at a temporary helipad at Pandarashila football ground in Sukrili.

Also Read: President Droupadi Murmu Arrives In Mayurbhanj

On her arrival, the President was accorded a warm welcome in the presence of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu, Mayurbhanj Collector, and scores of people’s representatives.

During her four-day visit, the President is scheduled to attend a series of programmes in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Cuttack, and Khordha districts.

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