• Monday, November 25, 2024

HEADLINE STORY

Modi offers prayers at Tirupati temple ahead of Telangana elections, prays for 1.4b Indians; in PICS

The prime minister stayed in the temple town for two days before leaving for campaigning.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala in Tirupati in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday, November 27, 2023. (ANI Photo)

By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (27) visited the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala in the south-western Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and sought blessings of Lord Venkataswara Swamy for the good health, well-being and prosperity of his countrymen.

Modi wore a religious outfit and sported tilak on his forehead while offering prayers at the temple.

He later shared glimpses of his visit to the world-renowned temple on his social media platform X where he wrote in English and Telugu, “At the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, prayed for the good health, well-being and prosperity of 140 crore Indians.”

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1728978864905531882SPOTLIGHT

Sharing another set of pictures, he added, “Om Namo Venkatesaya! Some more glimpses from Tirumala.”

While it was the prime minister’s fourth visit to the Tirumala temple after taking office in May 2014, it also came just days ahead of the election in the southern state of Telangana, which is also dominated by the Telugu-speaking people, and was formed by bifurcating the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves after offering prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala,
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi after offering prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, in Tirupati in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday, November 27, 2023. (ANI Photo)

After concluding his two-day visit to Tirumala, Modi left for campaigning in Telangana where his Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to taste power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, in Tirupati in the southern Indian state Andhra Pradesh on Monday, November 27, 2023, as priests chant mantras. (ANI Photo)

Modi arrived at Tirupati Airport located in Renigunta on Sunday (26) and was received by Andhra Pradesh governor S Abdul Nazeer and chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He reached Tirumala by road and checked into a guesthouse. Top officials of the temple met the PM and welcomed him.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, in Tirupati
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala, in Tirupati in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday, November 27, 2023. (ANI Photo)

While CM Reddy returned after receiving Modi at the airport, governor Nazeer accompanied the prime minister during his two-day stay in the temple town.

Security was tightened during Modi’s visit.

Related Stories