Advani offers prayers at Balaji temple

Tirumala, Nov 5 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani, accompanied by his wife Kamala and daughter Pratibha, today, offered worship at the Lord Venkateswara temple here.

Mr Advani, who arrived at the temple along with state BJP leaders, was received at the temple entrance by Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Chairman D K Audikesavulu Naidu and Devasthanams Executive officer K V Ramanachary.

The senior BJP leader offered prayers to Lord Balaji by entering through the Vaikuntum queue complex.

He was offered 'sesha vasthram' at the sanctum sanctorum by the chief priest of the temple.

The temple priest and vedic pandits blessed Mr Advani and his family amid chanting of hymns.

TTD officials presented temple 'prasadam' and a portrait of the Lord to them.

He spent 15 minutes in the temple and later left for Renigunta airport from where he will proceed to Anantapur to seek the blessings from Satya Saibaba.

Mr Advani, who arrived at the Renignuta airport around 1015 hrs from Bangalore, by a special flight to visit the temple, was given a warm welcome by State BJP leaders Bangaru Dattatreya, Chilakam Ramachandra Reddy, BJYM State leader Bhanu Prakash Reddy and Chittoor district leaders.

After taking the blessings from Satya Saibaba at Puttaparti, he will proceed to Delhi.

A tight security cordon was thrown around the Tirumala temple complex and at the Renigunta airport in view of Mr Advani's visit.

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