Pranab Mukherjee Visits Tirumala Temple

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

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 E S L 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 the temple of Sri Bhuvarahaswamy, before heading to the main shrine.

Inside the sanctum sanctorum, A V Ramana Dikshitulu, one of the chief priests of the Tirumala temple, explained to the President the significance of the Lord, and the jewels the deity is adorned with.

The President spent a few minutes praying to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara, and later, reached Ranganayakula Mandapam, where he was accorded a Vedasirvachanam by the temple priests.

TTD Board Chairman Kanumuru Bapiraju offered the President the Lord's silk vastram and prasadams, while TTD Executive Officer L V Subramanyam presented him with a lamination of an image of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi.

Endowments Minister C Ramachandraiah, MPs Kavuri Sambasivarao and 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)