She also asked people to celebrate the festival in the spirit of devotion, adding, “The message for Holi is… You all should play Holi. It’s Lord Krishna’s festival… Play Phoolon ki Holi (Holi with flowers).”
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and MP Hema Malini visited the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha last week on the occasion of Holi. However, the visit of the ‘Dream Girl’ has been deemed illegal resulting in a police complaint. Hema Malini offered prayers and sought the blessings of Lord Jagannath in the presence of Puri MP and BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra.
According to the reports, Shree Jagannath Sena, a local outfit has filed a complaint at the Singhadawar Police Station, accusing the actor-turned-politician of hurting and violating religious sentiments.
The outfit alleged that the BJP MP married Dharmendra, a Muslim, and violated traditions by visiting the Srimandir. Its chief, Priyadarshan Pattnaik, demanded Hema Malini’s arrest if the claims were proven true.
Hema Malini married Dharmendra in 1980. As per the complaint, Dharmendra, who was already married to Prakash Kaur converted to Islam, bypassed the Hindu Marriage Act, and tied the knot with Malini in a Nikah, which was solemnised by Moulana Kazi Abdulah Faizabadi.
The duo share two daughters, actor Esha Deol and Ahana Deol, and also have five grandchildren. Dharmendra shares four children with Prakash Kaur – Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Vijeta, and Ajeita.
While talking to the media, Hema Malini said, “Feeling blessed to have celebrated Holi at Jagannath Puri. I have come from Mathura… Yesterday, we celebrated Holi at Mathura; today, we are celebrating the festival here… I thank the Odisha government, the people, and Sambit Patra for the arrangements.”
She also asked people to celebrate the festival in the spirit of devotion, adding, “The message for Holi is… You all should play Holi. It’s Lord Krishna’s festival… Play Phoolon ki Holi (Holi with flowers).”
The visit to Puri was part of her Odisha tour, which also included a mesmerizing dance performance at the Vrindavan Mahotsav in Bhubaneswar on March 14. The event, organized by legendary flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, was a major highlight of the Holi celebrations in the state.
Dressed in an elegant yellow costume, Hema Malini captivated the audience with her graceful Odissi and Kathak dance performances, blending classical expressions with devotion. As a mark of respect, Sambit Patra presented her with a silver filigree artwork of Lord Jagannath.
Ahead of her performance, the actress spoke about her long-standing bond with Odisha, saying, “I always feel good whenever I come to Odisha… There is a lot of greenery here. It is a very calm and peaceful place.”
She also acknowledged the invitation from Guru Ratikant Mohapatra to perform at Sri Sri University, adding, “He is a good friend of mine. We have known each other for years. I have had a good relationship with Kelucharan Mohapatra.”
