Tirupati: People throng temples to offer prayers on New Year Day

Tirupati: The popular temples in Chittoor district including at Srikalahasti, Kanipakam, Tiruchanur, Talakona and other places witnessed heavy rush of people who thronged to offer prayers on the occasion of New Year Day.

With the normalcy almost returned due to the considerable decline of Covid cases in the district more so in the pilgrim city Tirupati, all the temples teemed with the devotees' right from the morning.

Panchayat Raj Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy along with his family including his son Rajampeta MP P V Mithun Reddy and government whip and TUDA chairman Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy performed special poojas at Siddheswara Swamy temple at Talakona. The devotees rush was heavy at Kanipakam, the abode of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka and at Srikalahasteeswara temple in Srikalahasti while the flow of pilgrims increased at Tirumala on the New Year Day.

Though the New Year celebrations compared to previous years remained a low-key affair this year, the shrines and the houses of elected representatives like MLAs and MPs bustled with the people arriving right from morning to evening. YSRCP local leaders, activists and followers lined up to greet city MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy while Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Redd observed the New Year in a different way seeking people to avoid presentation of garlands, bouquets, sweets and shawls to him and instead requested to donate study materials to students.

Responding to his request, the officials greeted him on Friday and donated study materials to Reddy who said that he will distribute them to the poor students studying in schools in his constituency.