Jagan offers silk robes at Tirumala temple, takes part in 'vahana seva'

TIRUMALA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday night had a darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara at the hill shrine here and presented the presiding deity with the traditional silk robes. Attired in traditional 'panche' and sporting 'tilakam' on forehead, the Chief Minister also took part in the 'Srivari vahana seva', a ritual performed on the first day of the Tirumala Brahmotsavams.

As part of the vahana seva, the deity is taken out in a procession on 'sesha vahanam' and around the Four Mada Streets of the Tirumala temple. Accompanied by TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, a battery of ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs besides state government and TTD officials, YS Jagan earlier had the darshan of the presiding deity in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Temple priests blessed Jagan by chanting vedic hymns and offered him the sacred prasadam. The Chief Minister also released the TTD's calendar and diary on this occasion. Earlier, YS Jagan arrived at the Padmavati Rest House for a brief halt before heading to the temple for the darshan. Following the long tradition at the famous hill shrine, temple priests tied 'varivattam' on Jagan before the latter carried the silk robes on his head and presented it to the presiding deity at the temple.

It has been a tradition for the chief ministers to personally carry the silk robes on the head and offer them to Lord Sri Venkateswara on behalf of the State during the Tirumala Brahmotsavams. This is the fourth time YS Jagan has done the sacred honours since becoming the chief minister.

Earlier in the evening, YS Jagan was accorded a grand welcome at the Renigunta airport by several ministers, people's representatives of YSRCP and state government officials. Then, he headed to the Thathaiahgunta Gangamma Thalli temple in Tirupati and had the darshan of the famous local goddess there.

Later on his way to Tirumala, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister launched 10 E-buses (electric buses) at Alipiri at the foot of the seven hills. These E-buses, the first ever in Andhra Pradesh, will be plied between Tirupati and Tirumala from Tuesday onwards.