President offers prayers in Lord Venkateswara temple

Tirupati, Sept 9: President of India Pranab Mukherjee offered prayers in the temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on Sunday during his maiden visit after assuming the highest office.

On his arrival, the President and his entourage were accorded a grand reception by the temple priests with traditional Isthikapal amidst the chanting of vedic hymns. Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy escorted the President to the sanctum sanctorum.  Earlier, the President followed the temple tradition, by offering prayers first in the Swami Pushkarini and later in temple of Sri BhuVarahaswamy before heading to main shrine.

Inside the sanctum sanctorum, one of the chief priests of Tirumala temple AV Ramana Dikshitulu explained to the President about the significance of Lord and the jewels adorned to the presiding deity. The President spent few minutes praying before the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara and later reached Ranganayakula Mandapam where he was accorded Vedasirvachanam by temple priests. TTD Board Chairman Kanumuru Bapiraju offered the President, Lord’s silk vastram, prasadams while TTD Executive Officer LV Subramanyam presented a lamination of Lord Venakteswara and Goddess Padmavathi.

Endowments Minister C Ramachandraiah, MPs Kavuri Sambasivarao, Dr Chinta Mohan, Tirumala Joint EO Srinivasa Raju, Tirupati Joint EO P Venkatrami Reddy and other TTD Board members and officials were also present.

-       INN

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