Argus News - Breaking News: Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi Seeks Lord Jagannath’s Blessings in Puri

Puri, Mar 28: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi began his Odisha tour with a spiritual visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, seeking divine blessings for the Indian Army.

Accompanied by his wife Sunita Dwivedi and a senior officer, the Army Chief arrived at the Singhadwar around 7:05 am, where he was warmly welcomed by temple servitors and administrative officials. His family priest guided him through the rituals, ensuring a complete darshan of the deities.

General Dwivedi performed the traditional foot cleansing at the Singhadwar purification site before bowing at the Arun Stambha and Patitapaban. He then proceeded through Baishi Pahacha and Sata Pahacha to reach the sanctum, where he had darshan of the Chaturdha Murti - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan.

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The visit lasted nearly 45 minutes, during which he also offered prayers at the Lakshmi and Bimala temples.

Expressing his gratitude, General Dwivedi described himself as fortunate to have received the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath. He emphasized that the divine grace would strengthen the Army in facing future challenges. He also showed keen interest in learning about the temple’s heritage, visiting Mukti Mandap, Rosha Ghar, and other important sites within the premises.

The Army Chief is on a three-day tour of Odisha, covering Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Gopalpur. His itinerary includes reviewing training activities and witnessing a weapons exhibition at the Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur. He will also oversee training camps and interact with personnel to assess preparedness. The tour is scheduled to conclude on March 29.