Lakhs throng Puri on New Year

Puri: Lakhs of visitors thronged Puri to take holy dip in sea and offer prayers to Lord Jagannath on the New Year day on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited Puri and took the blessings of Lord Jagannath and his siblings at the 12^th century shrine here.

Sand art creations by Sudarshan Pattnaik and Manas Sahu on Puri and Chandrabhaga beach were major attraction for visitors.

He also greeted all and wished the people of Odisha a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year.

Later, he visited Swargadwar and paid homage to his father and former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

While tourists from various parts of the country visited the pilgrim town to offer prayers, many also visited the Konark Sun temple and flocked Chandrabhaga beach in the early hours today to witness the first sunrise of 2019.