The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR offers prayers at Tirumala

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Sunday, Jan 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR offers prayers at Tirumala

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister received with traditional temple honours by the priests

Photo: PTI

Seeking blessings: Chief Minister Y. .S Rajasekhara Reddy at Tirumala temple on Saturday.

TIRUMALA: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday offered prayers at the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara before launching the fourth phase of land distribution programme at Tirupati.

The Chief Minister who reached Tirupati in a special chopper on Saturday morning motored to Tirumala.

On his arrival at the temple, the TTD officials and the priests received him with the traditional ‘Isti kapal’ temple honours and led him into the sanctum sanctorum where he stood in front of the main deity for a few minutes. While the chief priest of the temple honoured him with the ‘sesha vastram’ of the Lord, TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy presented him with the ‘prasadam’.

The Vedic pundits also did the ‘Vedasirvachanam’ (ritualistic blessing) on him at the Ranganayakula mandapam inside the temple complex.

Prominent among others who received him were TTD Executive Officer K.V. Ramanachary, JEO G. Balaramaiah and temple deputy Executive Officer Chandramohan Naidu.

Dr. Reddy who was briefed by the temple authorities about the milling pilgrims which the temple town had been experiencing for the past two days wounded up his visit in a record time of less than twenty minutes.

The pilgrims waiting in the queue lines lauded the gesture of the Chief Minister and said that it should remain an example for other VVIPs visiting Tirumala.

Entry prohibited

Another interesting feature was the strict enforcement of the temple ‘Mahadwaram’ entry rules by the TTD security.

The TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Harikumar who made himself present at the ‘Mahadwaram’ entry point allowed only Ministers D. Prasada Rao and Galla Aruna Kumari, the TTD chairman and board members to accompany the Chief Minister.

Noted among others who were denied entry into the temple complex from the ‘Mahadwaram’ were former Endowments Minister Bapi Raju, Tirupati MLA

Venkataramana, B.Chengalrayulu MLC, former DCC president Gopinath and other local leaders.

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