Wishing the people of Odisha on the occasion of Makar Sankanti in a video message on Monday, the chief minister said Lord Jagannath is the identity of all Odias.

“All of us start our good works in the name of Lord Jagannath who symbolises a unifying force for all religions in the world. He is the basic source of our tradition, culture and consciousness. Jagannath culture is the foundation of our culture,” he said.

“It is our good fortune that we will witness the opening of Parikrama Prakalpa dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Hundreds of sadhus and great personalities have been making ‘Parikrama’ of Jagannath temple as part of religious belief for centuries. The heritage corridor project aims at facilitating the common people to undertake the ‘Parikrama’ in a smooth and secured way,” Naveen said.

Stating that the opening of the corridor is an occasion for celebration of Jagannath culture, he requested the people to celebrate the day as a glittering and joyous festival like Diwali.

“We can participate in this festivity by lighting diyas (lamps), blowing conch shells, beating cymbals, offering prayers, reciting devotional hymns and doing kirtans at temples or own homes on the day,” he added.