Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered his prayers at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.
He was accompanied by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union ministers Ashoka Gajapati Raju, Nirmala Sitharaman, M. Venkaiah Naidu and others.
Mr. Modi, who is on his maiden visit to the temple after taking over as Prime minister, took every one by surprise when he arrived at the temple swathed in white Dhoti and angavastram (Upper cloth).
On his arrival at the temple Mahadwaram (main entrance), he was traditionally received with the 'Isti Kapal' honours and led into the sanctum sanctorum where he stood for about ten minutes in front of the main deity and paid his obeisances.
The temple priest honoured him with the 'Silk Vastram' of the deity. Later at the Ranganayakula mandapam, while the priests showered vedasirvachanams on him, the authorities presented him with the famous Laddu and a memento of the Lord.
Addressing the TTD-run Sri Venkateswara Bhakthi Channel from inside the temple, Mr. Modi said that he was fortunate to have the blessings of the presiding deity on the auspicious day of Vijaya Dasami, which concurred with the final day of the Navaratri festival.
Citing a couple of Sanskrit hymns he said that he had prayed for the well-being of all the people of the country and wished that they lived united in peace and harmony.
Later, he motored down to Tirupati from where he flew back to New Delhi.
