File Photo: President Pranab Mukherjee
President Pranab Mukherjee offered prayers at the ancient hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, near Tirupati, today.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Governor ESL Narasimhan were with the President during his visit.
Mr Mukherjee arrived from Hyderabad on an eight-hour spiritual sojourn today. Before proceeding to the sacred hills, he paid obeisance to Goddess Padmavathi at nearby Tiruchanur and Lord Shiva, called Kapileswaraswamy at the ancient cave temple close to the foot of the hills, temple sources told PTI.
He paid tribute at the sub-shrines of Sri Ganesh, Sri Subramanyaswamy and Navagrahas situated inside the Kapileswara temple.
Before visiting the Lord Venkateswara temple, Mr Mukherjee also offered prayers at the shrine of Lakshmivaraha Swamy adjacent to it.
On his arrival at the hill shrine, he was accorded a ceremonious traditional reception. Temple priests, amid chanting of vedic hymns, conducted Mr Mukherjee to the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.
Later, Mr Mukherjee was honoured by presenting him with a sacred silk cloth of the Lord,
prasadam, holy photo and celestial water in a tiny bottle.
It was his second visit to the hill shrine after assuming office on July 25, 2012. Tight security arrangements were in place here in view of the high profile visit.