Ambika Soni offers prayers at Tirumala temple

Tirumala, Nov 15 (UNI) Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni has offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala tonight.

Ms Soni, who arrived at Renigunta airport in the evening from New Delhi for her two-day monuments' visit at Tirumala and Tirupati in Chittoor district, was received at the airport by senior Congress leaders, including Tirupati MP Chinta Mohan, and later, she proceeded to the Tirumala hills.

After visiting the Natural Arch (Shilathoranam), a geological wonder in Tirumala, she, accompanied by Mr Mohan and Tourism and Archeological officials, arrived at the Tirumala temple, where she was accorded a traditional welcome by TTD senior officials and later she had a 'darshan' of Lord Balaji.

After the 'darshan', she was presented Sri Vari Prasadam, Vastram and the lord's portrait by TTD Special Officer A V Dharma Reddy at the Ranganayakula Mandapam inside the temple..

After a night halt at the hill top, she would also take part in the pre-dawn rituals tomorrow.

Before winding up her two-day visit, Ms Soni would hold a review meeting on the 'Temple circuit heritage project', funded by he Centre, covering as many as 19 ancient temples in Chittoor and Nellore districts, with the officials concerned, followed by a visit the Gudimallem temple and the Srikalahasti temple, which are also covered under the heritage project.

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