PRESIDENT OFFERS PRAYERS IN TIRUMALA SHRINE

Tirumala, 25 Dec. 15: The Honourable President of India Dr Pranab Mukherjee offered prayers at the Tirumala temple of Lord Venkateswara on Friday evening seeking blessings of the universal deity for welfare of the entire humanity.

He was accompanied by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri E.S.L. Narasimhan and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Clad in traditional dress as per the custom of the temple, the president had darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

TTD chairman Ch. Krishnamoorthy, TTD Executive officer D. Sambasiva Rao and other officials welcomed him amidst the Vedic chants by temple priests and Mangala Vaidyams with Isthikaphal Swagatham.

Dr A.V. Ramana Deekshitulu, one of the chief priests of TTD explained to the president about the importance of the presiding deity, his ornaments, different idols in Sannidhi and the mythological importance of Tirumala temple.

After darshan, the president was given holy water – Teertham, Melchat Seshavastram and was extended Satari honours.

The president later had darshan of sub-shrines including Vakulamata, Vimana Venkateswara, Bhashyakarulu, Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy and made the offerings in Srivari Hundi.

TTD chairman Ch. Krishnamoorthy, TTD Executive officer D. Sambasiva Rao, Tirumala Jeo Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, TTD board member Sri G Bhanuprakash Reddy, offered prasadam and laminated photo of the deity to the country’s first citizen.

Earlier, Sri Pranab Mukherji visited Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy temple following the temple tradition which is in vogue since several centuries.

Minister Sri Bojjala Gopala Krishna Reddy, MLAs Smt Sugunamma, Smt Satyaprabha, MLC Sri G Srinivasulu, Temple DyEO Sri Chinnamgari Ramana and others were also present.


ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER TTDs TIRUPATI