JOIN USIn continuation of the "thanksgiving" spree after achieving a separate Telangana state, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao offered a jewel-studded golden nose stud to Goddess Kanakadurga in Vijayawada on Thursday.
The chief minister, accompanied by his family members, Home minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy and others reached Gannavaram airport, where Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister D Umamaheswara Rao received him.
At the temple, the priests accorded him a traditional welcome with "poorna khumbham".
KCR carried the 11.29 gm nose stud, studded with 52 diamonds and other valuable stones with state bird Palapitta (Indian Roller) in the middle of it, on his head.
"The chief minister presented the nose stud to the goddess and prayed for the welfare of both the Telugu states. After prayers at the sanctum sanctorum for more than 40 minutes, the whole family was given "aaseervachanam (blessings)," the priests at the temple told media.
The chief minister's family immediately left for Hyderabad after this. KCR's fans had erected flexes all along the way to the airport to welcome Telangana chief minister to Andhra Pradesh.
Last year in February, KCR offered jewels to Lord Venkateswara on behalf of the Telangana government, including a 'saligrama haram', weighing about 14.148 kg and a 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 crores.
These jewels were handed over to TTD as per the procedure.
Last year also in February, KCR presented a moustache to Lord Veerabhadra Swamy in Telangana's Mahbubabad district.
In October 2016, he presented an 11.7 kg gold crown worth over Rs. 3 crore to Goddess Bhadrakali at Warangal.
In December 2015, the chief minister organized an 'ayutha chandi maha yagam' to appease the gods, despite the opposition from the rationalists.
While funds for ornaments were said to have drawn from the Common Good Fund and the endowments department, the expenditure for the "mother of all yagas" was met by donations from the near and dear.