Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi along with her wife Priyanka Marndi today seen purchasing earthen lamps, Rangoli colours and other puja items on the occasion of Diwali.
Shri Majhi, accompanied by his wife Priyanka, visited the busy Unit-1 market here this morning and purchased some ‘diyas’ and puja items from a street vendor from Odisha.
His visit drew a huge crowd as a large number of people gathered to witness the Chief Minister buying materials in the market.
“The Chief Minister purchased puja materials worth Rs 2,000 from my shop. I am delighted,” Tribeni Sahu, the old lady who put up her stall in the footpath of the market, said.
Pappu, another young man selling rangoli, said the vendors were delighted to find the Chief Minister among them.
“This was probably the first time that a Chief Minister has walked down the streets of the local market for Diwali shopping,” he said.
Pappu said the Chief Minister had to leave in a hurry because of the growing crowd around him.
Shrimati Sahu said all her items were sold out as people bought materials from her shop soon after the Chief Minister left the place.
Speaking to reporters at the market, Shri Majhi said, “I’m buying from the footpath because this is where I used to do my Diwali shopping earlier too. From 2004-2009, I was staying here and my quarter is here nearby. After becoming the CM also, I wished to buy from street vendors and emphasise on ‘Odia Asmita’ and be vocal for locals to extend a helping hand to every vendor.”
He wished the people on the occasion and emphasised his government’s commitment to take the state to new heights.
“My heartiest congratulations to all the brothers and sisters of Odisha on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of light and joy. On this occasion, I pray to Lord Jagannath that darkness be removed from everyone’s life,” Majhi said in a video message on his X handle.
After marketing for Diwali, Shri Majhi embarked on a two-day visit to his home district of Keonjhar. He departed for Keonjhar at 11.20 am on a special flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport here.
According to Shri Majhi’s itinerary, he is scheduled to attend a family function at Raikala village in Keonjhar.