Puri, Jan 27: Preparations are in full swing at the Jagannath Temple in Puri as President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit the shrine on February 4, following her tour of the holy city on February 3.

The traditional Chhatisha Nijog meeting has concluded with key decisions regarding temple rituals, security, and arrangements for the President’s visit.

On February 4, the President will perform pind daan rituals for her ancestors at the sacred Tirtha Pushkarini Shwetaganga before proceeding to the temple for darshan.

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As per the schedule, the temple doors will open at 4 am, followed by Mangala Arati at 5 am. The morning rituals and attire (besha) will conclude by 7 am, after which the President will have darshan prior to the Gopal Ballava ritual.

At 7:40 am, President Murmu will enter the sanctum through the Dhukudi Dwara for darshan of Lord Jagannath. Priests will chant Vedic hymns near Satapahacha, and on her return, puja pandas will recite swasti vachana near the Beherana Dwara. Special arrangements have been made for offering dry Mahaprasad to the President.

For security reasons, the temple premises will be thoroughly sanitized at 6 am, and general darshan will remain restricted for two hours. Only designated palia sevayats will be present during the rituals. Devotees will be allowed to collect Mahaprasad from the northern gate after the rituals conclude.

This will be President Murmu’s fourth visit to the Jagannath Temple since assuming office. She previously visited on November 10, 2022, when she walked two kilometers along Bada Danda to reach the shrine. On July 7, 2024, she witnessed the Rath Yatra, and on December 4, 2024, she offered prayers after attending Navy Day celebrations at Puri’s Blue Flag Beach. This time, her itinerary includes both darshan and ancestral rituals, underscoring her deep spiritual connection with the temple.