Puri, June 27 -- On the occasion of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan sought blessings from Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Puri, on Friday.

The two Union Ministers, accompanied by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra and Odisha's Culture Minister Suryavanshi Suraj, also offered prayers at the Jagannath Temple.

While speaking to reporters after, Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat expressed his admiration for Puri Shankaracharya and expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to witness such an auspicious day as a Union Minister of Culture.

"The historic celebration of Lord Jagannath's rath yatra is starting....I am very fort...