PM Modi offers prayers at Tirumala temple

Tirupati, Oct 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered worship at Lord Venkateswara temple here.

He said after the 'darshan' that he sought blessings of the Lord for the country to progress with peace, unity and harmony, and hoped that the country will continue to have his blessings to alleviate poverty and for a change in the lives of people.

Modi, who was on a day-long visit to Andhra Pradesh, said it was good fortune that he got blessings of the Lord Balaji on Vijaya Dasami day.

Accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and central ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu and Ashok Gajapathi Raju, he took part in various rituals amid chanting of Vedic hymns by a group of priests.

Priests and the temple authorities gave 'laddu' and other sacred offerings to Modi, who was on his first visit to Tirumala temple after taking assuming office as the prime minister last year.

The visit to the temple was the last on Modi's busy schedule during the day.

IANS