<p>President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday offered prayers at the renowned temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala during his first visit to Andhra Pradesh after assuming the highest office.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The President, who arrived at the crack of the dawn, was accorded a grand reception by temple priests with traditional rituals that included chanting of Vedic hymns. Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy accompanied Mukherjee to the sanctum sanctorum.<br /><br />Earlier, Mukherjee, following the temple tradition, offered prayers at the Swami Pushkarini and later in the Sri Bhuvarahaswamy temple before heading to the main shrine. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, A V Ramana Dikshitulu, one of the chief priests, explained to the President the significance of Lord Venkateswara. After spending a few minutes in front of the presiding deity, Mukherjee reached Ranganayakula Mandapam where he was accorded Vedasirvachanam by temple priests.<br /><br />The President then visited the S V Vedapathasala at Dharmagiri, 15 km from Tirumala and other religious places.</p>
<p>President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday offered prayers at the renowned temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala during his first visit to Andhra Pradesh after assuming the highest office.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The President, who arrived at the crack of the dawn, was accorded a grand reception by temple priests with traditional rituals that included chanting of Vedic hymns. Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy accompanied Mukherjee to the sanctum sanctorum.<br /><br />Earlier, Mukherjee, following the temple tradition, offered prayers at the Swami Pushkarini and later in the Sri Bhuvarahaswamy temple before heading to the main shrine. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, A V Ramana Dikshitulu, one of the chief priests, explained to the President the significance of Lord Venkateswara. After spending a few minutes in front of the presiding deity, Mukherjee reached Ranganayakula Mandapam where he was accorded Vedasirvachanam by temple priests.<br /><br />The President then visited the S V Vedapathasala at Dharmagiri, 15 km from Tirumala and other religious places.</p>
