President makes unscheduled visit to Gandhi ghat on Puri beach
Puri | Wednesday, Dec 9 2009 IST
 

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today made an unscheduled visit to the nearby Gandhi Ghat along the beach to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Although the visit to Gandhi Ghat was not on the original list of the President but she made the visit on the request of Sarvoday Mella, Gandhi Smruti Pitha.

The Smriti Pitha is a place of national importance. Kailashnath Katzu, the then governor after demise of Mahatma had consigned the mortal remains (ashes) of Mahatma in the Mahodadhi tirth (a stretch of Puri sea from Swargdwar to Chakratirth considered as holy as per the religious texts) and kept some ashes in a urn on a platform on the beach where the Sarvoday activists later installed a half bust statue of Mahatma.

Since then Sarvoday Mella is being organised every year.

Later the state government with the help of NALCO developed it into a beautiful park and installed a lifesize statue of Mahatma.

PCC General Secretary Priyadarshan Pattnaik had approached the President to visit the pitha to pay respect to father of the nation.

In an instant response, the President directed the officials to arrange her visit to Gandhi Ghat in the afternoon. It was a tough time for the police and the security personnel to make arrangements on such a short notice. The local administration too was in strain as the place was dirty and filled with litter. However, the place was made ready for the Prez's visit. The President was escorted to the place, located close to the Raj Bhaban, where she was taking rest after visiting the Jagannath temple. Octogenarian freedom fighter and sarvoday leader Chandrashekher Nayak welcomed the President. She offered floral tributes to Mahatma and spent about ten minutes talking to the Sarvoday activists.

She left a note in the praise of Nayak describing him as the symbol of freedom struggle, truth and dedication.

-- (UNI) -- 09CA49.xml

 

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