The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, visited the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur today. He experienced firsthand the exquisite Pattachitra paintings, Tussar textiles, woodcraft, and other artistic creations made by local artisans and interacted with them.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, R. S. Gopalan, along with senior officials, was present during the visit.
Praising the artisans of Raghurajpur, CEC Kumar commended their efforts in keeping alive centuries-old Indian culture, traditions, and folklore through Pattachitra and other art forms. He expressed 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 to 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 Singh presented 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, where he learned about Buddhist culture and history from Buddhist monks. He described the panoramic view of Bhubaneswar city and the Daya River from the Peace Pagoda as extremely beautiful. He remarked that India is known worldwide for peace and harmony and expressed his wish for the message of peace from the Dhauli Peace Pagoda to spread 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 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.
Unfortunately, due to the ill health of his father, CEC Kumar had to postpone all scheduled programs for the third day, including a meeting with Booth Level Officers, and returned to New Delhi 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.
Accompanying the Chief Election Commissioner were Chief Electoral Officer Gopalan, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sushant Kumar Mishra, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Gopinath Kuanr, Deputy Chief Electoral Officers Dr. Lakshmi Prasad Sahu and Smt. Anamika Singh, along with officials from the local administration, officers of the Archaeological Survey of India, and other senior officials, during the visits to various locations.
