Monkey holds tricolour near Puri temple on I-Day
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Puri: A rare and heart-warming spectacle unfolded in Puri on Independence Day on Friday when a monkey was spotted clutching a tricolour near the Jagannath Temple
Around 9 am, the monkey grabbed a national flag and sat with it for nearly half an hour near the Maa Sholapua Temple, located close to the Singha Dwara of the 12th-century shrine.
The sight quickly drew a crowd, with onlookers capturing photos and videos on their mobile phones, which later went viral on social media. Many remarked that the moment symbolised that even an animal could show love for the nation.
As thousands of schoolchildren marched during rallies and parades in front of the temple, the monkey remained calm, still holding the tricolour. "Children were thrilled to see the monkey and cheered with excitement," said Biswanath Sahoo, a khaja seller near the temple.
He said monkeys are usually criticised for biting devotees or causing chaos on the temple premises but this one conveyed a message of peace and patriotism.
Temple servitor Santosh Mahasuara said, "Monkeys are traditionally regarded as devotees of Lord Ram. Lord Jagannath is believed to be an incarnation of Ram. In that sense, monkeys are devotees of the Lord. On Independence Day, the monkey displayed not only its devotion but also a rare sense of patriotism."
The remarkable moment ended when a foreign visitor offered a banana, prompting the monkey to climb down.
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