Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam explores Odisha's cultural heritage

Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the President of Singapore, today visited the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur and the iconic 13th-century Sun Temple in Konark, Puri. Accompanied by his wife, the presidential couple received a warm welcome featuring traditional Gotipua dance performances and various cultural displays.

During their hour-long visit to Raghurajpur, renowned for its rich artistic traditions such as Pattachitra art, Tala Patra Chitra (palm leaf engravings), and stone sculpture, the couple engaged with local artists. They purchased two Pattachitra paintings that depicted themes from the Ramayana and representations of Lord Ganesh. Pattachitra artist Prasant Kumar Subudhi shared, "The President showed great interest in our craft and even learned about the process of creating Pattachitra artwork."

Additionally, President Shanmugaratnam received a handmade painting from young artist Ayush Mohapatra, which featured the couple against the backdrop of the Puri Jagannath Temple. The couple later toured the majestic Sun Temple at Konark, where they were greeted by officials from the Archaeological Survey of India.

In preparation for the visit, Puri police implemented extensive security measures. The day before, Shanmugaratnam had spent four hours at Kala Bhoomi, Bhubaneswar’s handicrafts museum, where he praised Odisha's rich artistic heritage. He was joined by Odisha Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during these engagements.