Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered milk, juice of tender coconut, leaves of Bengal quince (bael) and flowers when he worshipped Lord Lingaraj inside the sanctum sanctorum of the 11th century temple, a prominent Shiva shrine of the country, here on Sunday.
Here, on a two-day visit to attend the BJP’s national executive committee meeting, Mr. Modi visited the temple before leaving for the party event.
Flanked by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and State BJP president Basanta Panda, Mr. Modi went around the stone-floored premises of the temple complex.
He also worshipped at the Siddhi Vinayak temple and Devi Parvati temple on the campus. Sevayats (servitors) and temple officials apprised Mr. Modi of the temple lore.
The temple complex having 50 smaller shrines in its spacious courtyard was made dust-free ahead of the PM’s visit.
According to Rajkishore Mohapatra, one of the servitors, the PM sought the “blessings of Lord Shiva” for the well-being of the country.
