Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi felicitates Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in Bhubaneswar.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Saturday (January 18, 2025) visited Raghurajpur artists’ village and the Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha’s Puri district on the second day of his tour to the State.

Accompanied by the First Lady of Singapore, Mr. Shanmugaratnam spent more than an hour at Raghurajpur heritage village and purchased two Pattachitra paintings, one on the theme of Ramayana and another on Lord Ganesh. He interacted with the artists, saw paintings and enquired how the unique Pattachaitra arts are drawn.

“The President of Singapore enquired about the history and origin of Pattachaitra paintings and asked how we create such artwork,” said Prasant Kumar Subudhi, an artist and a member of the Raghurajpur Craftsmen Committee.

Ayush Mohapatra, an artist from Raghurajpur village, presented a painting of Mr. Shanmugaratnam and his wife with Puri Jagannath Temple behind them. “I am happy that the President himself received the painting from me,” Mr. Mohapatra said.

Raghurajpur in Odisha’s Puri district is known across the world for its Pattachitra paintings, palm leaf engraving and other kinds of traditional crafts. Every house in the village is a gallery of Odisha’s rich cultural legacy.

Later, Mr. Shanmugaratnam visited the 13^th century Sun Temple at Konark where he was received by officials of the State Government and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

“In view of the Singapore President’s visit, other tourists would not be allowed to the temple till 12 noon. Security has been strengthened across the district for Mr. Shanmugaratnam’s visit,” an official said.

Abhas Mohanty, a guide who assisted the Sangapore President during his visit to Konark, said, “We informed him about the people’s lifestyle across various civilisations of the world and human emotions described in the stonework at the temple. We also apprised him of the shape of stone statues at the Konark temple. He was really happy.”

After his return from Konark temple, the President is scheduled to undertake a visit to a Bharat Biotech vaccine manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar. The President on Friday night (January 17, 2025) visited galleries at ‘Kalabhoomi’ and saw Odisha’s art, handicrafts and handlooms.

He also spent time at the Jagannath Gallery and appreciated the spiritual consciousness and traditions of the State. Odisha Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present on the occasion.

The First Lady of Singapore also bought a saree from ‘Kalabhoomi’ and made the payment through UPI. The President and his wife were served traditional Odia food. A fusion dance of Odisha and Singapore was organised for the President and his wife.

Singapore:

Former Singapore deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected president Friday, according to official results, in the city-state’s first contested vote for the largely ceremonial position in more than a decade.

The Elections Department declared the 66-year-old economist as the winner over two rival candidates after securing 70.4 percent of ballots cast.

“I declare Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the candidate duly elected as the president of Singapore,” said election returning officer Tan Meng Dui.

Mr Shanmugaratnam replaces incumbent Halimah Yacob who ran unopposed for her six-year term in 2017.

“I believe that it’s a vote of confidence in Singapore. It’s a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together,” Mr Shanmugaratnam said in a speech before the results were announced.

There are stringent requirements for the position, which formally oversees the city’s accumulated financial reserves and holds the power to veto certain measures and approve anti-graft probes.

Observers said Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s win is a boost for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which is widely perceived to favour his candidacy.

The party that has ruled Singapore continuously since 1959 has been hurt by a rare spate of political scandals ahead of the presidential vote.

Mr Shanmugaratnam, also a former finance minister, was a long-time PAP stalwart before he resigned to run for the non-partisan position of president.

His independence had been questioned during the campaign because of his previous ties with the government.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)