Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday visited Jagannath temple in Puri to seek the Lord's blessings on New Year.
"I prayed to Lord Jagannath for the well-being, peace and prosperity of the people of Odisha," said Naveen after emerging from the temple.
On December 26, Naveen attended the BJD's 20th foundation day in Puri for the first time. In a departure from tradition, the state cabinet also met in Puri on the same day.
Naveen also visited the crematorium at Swargadwar in Puri, where his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik was cremated.
In the morning before leaving for Puri, Naveen called on governor S.C. Jamir at Raj Bhavan to wish him on New Year.
People from various walks of life on Monday thronged the secretariat to convey New Year wishes to the chief minister, ministers and top bureaucrats.
People made a beeline to the third floor, where the chief minister's office is located, in the afternoon to call on Naveen. Chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, ministers and officials also met him.
The ministerial corridor on the second and first floors also witnessed heavy rush with senior bureaucrats and others meeting the ministers. People also gathered at Naveen Nivas, the chief minister's residence, and the residential quarters of the ministers to greet their leaders on New Year. The offices of various political parties also wore a crowded look. Leaders of the Congress and the BJP also wished that an era of peace and prosperity would usher in Odisha in the New Year.
Padhi said: "Hope Odisha will advance further in 2018. The state's economic growth rate will be higher and it will make an all-round progress."