Puri turns saffron as Modi leads spirited roadshow

Bhubaneswar, May 20: The Grand Road in Puri took on a vibrant hue of saffron as Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a spirited roadshow, evoking a scene reminiscent of Rath Yatra festivities. Amidst cheering crowds of BJP supporters and workers, Modi waved enthusiastically, creating an atmosphere of celebration and excitement.

Before commencing the roadshow, Modi paid homage to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra at the revered Shreemandir. Spending a reverent half-hour within the temple, he then embarked on the roadshow, traversing a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Marichikote to Medical Chhak.

Flanked by a flower-adorned open-roof vehicle, Modi journeyed through the Grand Road, accompanied by traditional music, including drum beats, ghants, and the lively Ghoda Nacha. The air reverberated with chants of "Modi, Modi," "Bande Bharat Mata," and "BJP Jindabad," lending a musical cadence to the procession.

The roadshow garnered immense popularity, drawing a massive gathering along the barricaded Grand Road. Puri Lok Sabha MP candidate Sambit Patra and BJP State president were by Modi's side, brandishing lotus cutouts, the emblem of the BJP.

Adding to the spectacle, seven BJP MLA candidates contesting under the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, including Jayant Sarangi, Om Prakash Mishra, Prithviraj Harichandan, Upasana Mohapatra, Ashrit Patnaik, Pratusha Rajeswari Singh, and Surama Padhi, greeted the Prime Minister from various platforms erected along the Grand Road.