RAIRANGPUR: Odisha rose in unison to celebrate Droupadi Murmu’s victory as she comfortably led against her rival Yashwant Sinha in the presidential election, the counting of which was being conducted on Thursday.
The tribal village of Uperbeda, where Droupadi was born, Pahadpur where she got married, and Rairangpur town where she started her political career as a ward councillor in Mayurbhanj district and the rest of the state celebrated the day bursting cracker like Diwali and played colours like Holi, distributed sweets and danced on the streets.
"Everybody in the community feels it’s our achievement," said Saraswati Tudu, a relative of Droupadi who danced to the tunes of a tribal number in front of Droupadi’s ancestral home.
Tribals in general and Santhal community in particular, to which Droupadi belongs to, began a long-drawn festive season which will continue till her swearing-in on Monday and may stretch beyond.
Community feasts were organised at multiple locations while "bundi ladoos (sweets)" were distributed among people and crackers burst like it was Diwali and colours applied as if it was Holi.
It's not just a personal feat for Droupadi. The sense of achievement could be felt among the average Odia on the street and across the political spectrum, since, for the first time, a state native has been elevated to Raisina Hill.
"I have never seen a President personally. Had never harboured that ambition. But I know Droupadi so well. She is so affable and like a daughter. Whenever she visits the village next, I will tell her I know the President of India," said Malati Patra (80), a native of Rairangpur.
People didn’t wait for the formalities of results to be declared for the revelries, presuming Droupadi’s elevation a foregone conclusion since early in the day.
The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD celebrated the Odisha daughter’s success much the same way its principal rival BJP summed the state’s mood.
Politicians joined traditional tribal dance groups at the state BJP and BJD headquarters besides in various other parts of the state.
