<p>Abdul Ghani, a Muslim devotee of Lord Venkateshwara, donated Rs 1.02 crore in money and goods to the Tirupati temple on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The Chennai-based businessman is an ardent follower of Srinivasa—as Lord Venkateswara is also known—and had offered several gifts to the famed Hindu temple in the past as well.</p>.<p>At the beginning of the spread of Covid-19 in the country in March 2020, Ghani donated a vehicle-mounted multidimensional sprayer that helped the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials keep the temple premises disinfected.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/ttd-to-help-construct-1342-hindu-temples-in-andhra-to-contain-religious-conversion-1140873.html" target="_blank">TTD to help construct 1,342 Hindu temples in Andhra to contain religious conversion</a></strong></p>.<p>Subeena Banu and Abdul Ghani, along with their children, had a darshan of Lord Venkateswara on Tuesday. Their Rs 1 crore donation includes Rs 87 lakh worth furniture and utensils for the newly refurbished Sri Padmavathi guest house.</p>.<p>The Ghani family handed a demand draft for Rs 15 lakh meant for SV Annaprasadam Trust to a senior TTD official at the Ranganayakula Mandapam inside the temple.</p>.<p>At a time when religious fanaticism is attempting to build walls between communities, Ghani’s devotion to Lord Venkateshwara is transcending such boundaries.</p>.<p>Speaking to <em>DH </em>earlier, Ghani said that he has been visiting the temple for over 25 years.</p>.<p>Asked about how he became Govinda’s devotee, Ghani says: “That is a relationship I would like to keep a secret. This is a mutual understanding between me and Him.”</p>.<p>“Venkateswara, Allah or Jesus … I believe that God is one. The ultimate challenge we are facing now is people not understanding this simple equation,” Ghani says.</p>.<p>Some of Ghani's donations to TTD earlier include an air-conditioned truck for transportation of vegetables to the Nitya-annadaana facility run by the TTD near the temple.</p>.<p><strong>Brahmotsavam festivities</strong></p>.<p>Meanwhile, TTD officials are geared up for the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateshwara beginning on September 27.</p>.<p>To be held publicly after a two-year gap because of Covid-19 restrictions, the TTD has planned a spectacular display of folk performances and puranic episodes as part of cultural programs accompanying the vahana sevas.</p>.<p>As many as 88 cultural teams from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Puducherry would be presenting their regional arts and dance forms during the nine-day celestial festivities.</p>
<p>Abdul Ghani, a Muslim devotee of Lord Venkateshwara, donated Rs 1.02 crore in money and goods to the Tirupati temple on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The Chennai-based businessman is an ardent follower of Srinivasa—as Lord Venkateswara is also known—and had offered several gifts to the famed Hindu temple in the past as well.</p>.<p>At the beginning of the spread of Covid-19 in the country in March 2020, Ghani donated a vehicle-mounted multidimensional sprayer that helped the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams officials keep the temple premises disinfected.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/ttd-to-help-construct-1342-hindu-temples-in-andhra-to-contain-religious-conversion-1140873.html" target="_blank">TTD to help construct 1,342 Hindu temples in Andhra to contain religious conversion</a></strong></p>.<p>Subeena Banu and Abdul Ghani, along with their children, had a darshan of Lord Venkateswara on Tuesday. Their Rs 1 crore donation includes Rs 87 lakh worth furniture and utensils for the newly refurbished Sri Padmavathi guest house.</p>.<p>The Ghani family handed a demand draft for Rs 15 lakh meant for SV Annaprasadam Trust to a senior TTD official at the Ranganayakula Mandapam inside the temple.</p>.<p>At a time when religious fanaticism is attempting to build walls between communities, Ghani’s devotion to Lord Venkateshwara is transcending such boundaries.</p>.<p>Speaking to <em>DH </em>earlier, Ghani said that he has been visiting the temple for over 25 years.</p>.<p>Asked about how he became Govinda’s devotee, Ghani says: “That is a relationship I would like to keep a secret. This is a mutual understanding between me and Him.”</p>.<p>“Venkateswara, Allah or Jesus … I believe that God is one. The ultimate challenge we are facing now is people not understanding this simple equation,” Ghani says.</p>.<p>Some of Ghani's donations to TTD earlier include an air-conditioned truck for transportation of vegetables to the Nitya-annadaana facility run by the TTD near the temple.</p>.<p><strong>Brahmotsavam festivities</strong></p>.<p>Meanwhile, TTD officials are geared up for the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateshwara beginning on September 27.</p>.<p>To be held publicly after a two-year gap because of Covid-19 restrictions, the TTD has planned a spectacular display of folk performances and puranic episodes as part of cultural programs accompanying the vahana sevas.</p>.<p>As many as 88 cultural teams from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Puducherry would be presenting their regional arts and dance forms during the nine-day celestial festivities.</p>
