She witnessed the annual Rath Yatra in the coastal pilgrim town on Sunday

Later, she penned her thoughts about her experience of being in close commune with nature

"There are places that bring us in closer touch with the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers and seashores appeal to something deep within us. As I walked along the seashore today, I felt a communion with the surroundings, the gentle wind, the roar of the waves, and the immense expanse of water. It was a meditative experience," Murmu posted on X

She said it brought her a profound inner peace that she had also felt when she had a darshan of Lord Jagannath on Sunday

Stating that she was not alone in having such an experience, Murmu said, "All of us can feel that way when we encounter something that is far larger than us, that sustains us and that makes our lives meaningful"

In the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, people lose this connection with Mother Nature. Humankind believes it has mastered nature and is exploiting it for its own short-term benefits and the result is for all to see, the President said

Murmu said many parts of India suffered a terrible series of heatwaves during this summer

Extreme weather events have become more frequent around the globe in recent years. The situation is projected to be far worse in the decades to come, she said

"More than 70 per cent of the surface of the Earth is made up of oceans, and global warming is leading to a rise in global sea levels, threatening to submerge coastal areas. The oceans and the rich variety of flora and fauna found there have suffered heavily due to different kinds of pollution," she stated