Modi Murmu Pray at Tribal Sacred Sites in Odisha

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi converged in Pahadpur village, Odisha, to offer prayers at revered tribal sacred shrines. The high-profile visit coinciding with the President’s 68th birthday emphasized cultural preservation, rural education, and localized community development initiatives.

Pahadpur: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered prayers at tribal sacred sites, including Gosani Peeth and the Santhali and Ho Jaheras, at Pahadpur village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

The PM’s visit to Pahadpur, the native village of the president’s late husband Shyam Charan Murmu, was held amid unprecedented security arrangements and away from media glare.

Murmu, who was already present in the village, received the prime minister on his arrival. Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome by residents, with drumbeats, flowers and traditional tribal dances.

The president and the PM first visited Gosani Peeth, then walked to the Santhali and Ho Jaheras, where they planted saplings.

While Jaheras are sacred groves where tribal deities are worshipped, Gosani is associated with prayers offered to ancestors, said Damayanti Beshra, an Ol Chiki scholar.

“It was an unforgettable day for the tribals of Odisha. Both the President and the PM offered prayers at tribal sacred groves,” Beshra said.

As part of the customary ritual, Murmu, Modi and members of their security detail were offered traditional Santhali garments before entering the Jahera, located amid trees.

The two leaders later visited a school established by Murmu in memory of her late husband and her two sons, Laxman and Sipun. Shyam Charan Murmu and the couple’s two sons died before Murmu became India’s first tribal president in 2022.

Modi paid floral tributes at the statue of Shyam Charan Murmu and also interacted with students at the school and the Skill Centre in Pahadpur. The leaders also visited an exhibition showcasing tribal products.

The village was decorated with flowers, tribal motifs and traditional artwork on mud walls. Children and women lined the streets to welcome the two leaders, while cut-outs and hoardings of Murmu and Modi were put up across the village.

Murmu and Modi later left for Rairangpur, where they are scheduled to attend a programme marking the second anniversary of the BJP government in Odisha.

Historical Context

The visit to Pahadpur carries immense personal and cultural weight. Pahadpur is the ancestral home of the President’s deceased spouse, Shyam Charan Murmu. The educational institution visited by the dignitaries was built by President Murmu to honor her late husband and her two departed sons, Laxman and Sipun, all of whom passed away prior to her historic 2022 ascension as the first tribal head of state of India. The presentation of traditional Santhali attire underscores the administration’s deep symbolic ties to indigenous communities.

FAQs

What are Jaheras in tribal culture?

Jaheras are institutionalized sacred groves where indigenous tribal communities worship their traditional deities amid protected natural trees and vegetation.

What is the significance of Gosani Peeth?

Gosani Peeth is a sacred tribal site heavily associated with offering prayers, respect, and customary rituals to family and community ancestors.

Why did PM Modi visit Pahadpur on June 20, 2026?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Pahadpur to join President Droupadi Murmu in honoring her 68th birthday and to review local educational and skill development institutions.

Who was Shyam Charan Murmu?

Shyam Charan Murmu was the late husband of President Droupadi Murmu. The local school in Pahadpur was built in his memory alongside the couple’s two late sons.