Bhubaneswar: The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar today visited the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur. He experienced firsthand the exquisite Pattachitra paintings, Tussar textiles, woodcraft and other artistic creations made by the local artisans, and also interacted with them. During the visit, the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, R. S. Gopalan, along with senior officials, was present.
Praising the artisans of Raghurajpur, Kumar said that they have kept alive centuries-old Indian culture, traditions and folklore through Pattachitra and other art forms, and that their work deserves the highest appreciation. On behalf of the Election Commission of India, he extended his best wishes to the artisans and appealed to people across the country to visit Raghurajpur and witness its unique artistic heritage. The Chief Election Commissioner was also deeply impressed by the Gotipua dance performed by young dancers at Raghurajpur.
On behalf of the Puri district administration, District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida and Superintendent of Police Prateek Kumar Singh felicitated the Chief Election Commissioner with Pattachitra paintings and other handicrafts.
While returning to Bhubaneswar, he visited the Dhauli Peace Pagoda and the nearby rock edicts, and learned about Buddhist culture and history from Buddhist monks. The panoramic view of Bhubaneswar city and the Daya River from the Peace Pagoda was described by him as extremely beautiful. He remarked that India is known worldwide for peace and harmony and expressed his wish that the message of peace from the Dhauli Peace Pagoda spreads even further across the world.
In the afternoon, the Chief Election Commissioner visited Udayagiri hill and its ancient caves. He expressed amazement and pride that more than 2,000 years ago, our ancestors were capable of creating such beautifully crafted caves and intricate stonework. He further noted that it is even more gratifying to see that the rich traditions and culture of thousands of years are still alive at Udayagiri hill today. Later, he visited the Mukteswar Temple, where he was deeply impressed by the ancient Kalinga-style architecture and sought the blessings of the deities along with his family.
Noted that due to a major accident involving the Chief Election Commissioner’s father, Kumar had to postpone all scheduled programmes for the third day, including a meeting with Booth Level Officers, and returned to New Delhi this evening on an emergency basis. Expressing regret over his sudden departure, he said that Odisha’s art, architecture, hospitality and natural beauty have greatly impressed him, and assured that he will definitely visit Odisha again.
Along with the Chief Electoral Officer Gopalan, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sushant Kumar Mishra, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Gopinath Kuanr, Deputy Chief Electoral Officers Lakshmi Prasad Sahu and Anamika Singh, officials from the local administration, officers of the Archaeological Survey of India, and other senior officials were present during the visits to various locations.
