KCR prays for prosperity of Telangana, AP

Fulfils vow by offering jewels to Lord Venkateswara

​Tirumala: Telangana State Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who visited Tirumala on Wednesday for the first time after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, said that he prayed for the prosperity of two Telugu states.

Speaking to media after offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara, KCR said he prayed for the well-being and prosperity of the two Telugu states. He said that he has fulfilled his vow of donating jewels to the Lord on behalf of the Telengana Government.

He exuded confidence that the two states maintain bonhomie and March ahead. Telangana Chief Minister thanked TTD management for making grand arrangements and extending courtesies to his family and his colleagues for darshan, accommodation and other facilities at Tirumala.

Earlier, KCR following age-old temple tradition first visited temple tank and sprinkled Pushkarini water on his head before reaching Varaha Swamy temple where TTD authorities received him and conducted him into the sanctum sanctorum.

He offered prayers to Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy and later reached Tirumala temple. At Mahadwaram, the main entrance, he was offered warm reception by TTD Chairman Dr Ch Krishnamurthy, TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao and Tirumala JEO KS Sreenivasa Raju. While AP Minister B Gopala Krishna Reddy also accompanied KCR. TTD Trust Board members Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, G Bhanuprakash Reddy and Dr P Hariprasad were also present.

Later, the Telangana Chief Minister reached Ranganayakula Mandapam where the jewels to be donated to Lord Venkateswara on behalf of Telengana Government were kept ready. These jewels were handed over to TTD as per the procedure.

The two jewels which have been donated to Lord Venkateswara included Saligrama Haram weighing about 14.148 kg and five-stepped Kante Haram (Petala Kante Haram) weighing about 4.924 kg taking the total weight to 19.072 kg and costing around Rs 5 crore.

Later, KCR with his family and entourage offered prayers in front of Lord Venkateswara. The priests explained him the importance of presiding deity and also the jewels that were adorned to the Lord.

After darshan of the Lord, KCR along with his spouse Shobha, daughter Kavitha and other family members were offered Vedasirvachanam by the vedic pundits. Later the temple mandarins offered Rao Teerthaprasadam and lamination photo of the Lord.

Before his return to Hyderabad, Telangana CM offered prayers in the temple of Goddess Sri Padmavathi Devi at Tiruchanoor near here on Wednesday. He offered nose stud weighing around 12.5 grams embedded with precious stones worth around Rs 1.18 lakh. The nose stud has the design of the state bird of Telengana -- Pala Pitta (Indian roller).

Earlier, he was accorded warm welcome by TTD Trust Board Chairman Dr Ch Krishna Murty, JEOs KS Sreenivasa Raju and Pola Bhaskar, special grade Deputy EO Munirathnam Reddy on his arrival at the main entrance of the temple. The TTD mandarins offered prqsadam to CM of TS and his entourage. Speaker of Telangana Assembly Madhusudhanachari, MP Kavitha and others were present.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Chief Minister on his maiden visit to Tirumala was busy meeting with a host of people since Tuesday. YSR Congress senior leader and former minister P Ramchandra Reddy, Rajampeta MP P Mithun Reddy, Chandragiri MLA Chevi Reddy Bhaskar Reddy met KCR on Tuesday night at Srikrishna Guest house where Rao stayed in Tirumala.

Tamil Nadu Telugu Yuva Sakthi leader K Jagadishwar Reddy also met Rao seeking his good office for restoration of Telugu in schools in Tamil Nadu. While curious pilgrims and locals also gathered near the guest house which remained hectic with visitors.