Ahead of the winter session of the Jharkhand Assembly beginning on December 19, Chief Minister Hemant Soren today offered prayers before God Shiva at Baidyanath Dham mandir on Friday.

Soren followed the rituals prescribed by priests of Baidyanath Dham temple. He had come after taking bath this morning. The priests performed puja and put tilak on his forehead.

With Shiva's puja over, his one-week-long first phase of Khatiyani yatra ended today. CM Soren is expected to take a rest for two days on Saturday and Sunday and then, he will take part in the winter session of the Assembly on Monday.

The winter session of assembly will last for just five days. To run this short session smoothly, Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto is slated to hold a meeting of legislatures and Assembly personnel on Saturday.