Angul (Odisha) [India], October 23 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited several Durga Puja pandals in the Angul district of Odisha on Sunday, offering prayers to the goddess.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of offering prayers on Mahaashtami on Sunday, the Union Minister said, "Today is Ashtami, and, in many places, Navami puja has begun. I consider it my good fortune and privilege to have been able to seek the blessings of Maa Durga in (Odisha's) Talmul village. I pray that Maa Durga showers her blessings on all of us."

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Earlier, on Sunday, the Union Human Resource and Development Minister met the family members of Saroj Kumar Das, a soldier from Odisha's Dhenkanal who perished in the recent flash flood in Sikkim.

Pradhan conveyed his condolences to the family members of the deceased soldier.

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Pradhan also paid floral tributes at a memorial raised in the soldier's name in his native Dhenkanal district. (ANI)

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