Author:
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: November 21, 2003
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEA20031120130139&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0
In a rare departure from tradition,
President A P J Abdul Kalam on Thursday performed archana to Lord Venkateswara
at Tirumala, not for himself but for those who cannot afford the ritual.
Shelling out Rs 600 (the fee for
the ritual) from his pocket, the President prayed on behalf of the less
fortunate and performed the ritual following a suggestion from a priest.
Earlier, accompanied by Governor
Surjit Singh Barnala and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the President
went up the hills for a darshan of the Lord.
A tight security blanket has been
thrown in and around both Tirupati and Tirumala and high-profile surveillance
mounted in view of the October 1 People's War attack on the Chief Minister
on Tirmula ghat road.
In the temple, the three dignitaries
offered prayers and they were presented with seshavastrams. The President,
who was on a day's visit to the town, spent about 25 minutes in the temple
and even offered cash in the hundi.
Before leaving the temple, the priests
invoked the Lord's blessings amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. The President
was presented with a sacred silk vastram (shawl) and given ladoo prasadam.
After coming out, he posed for photographs with priests, TTD board members
and staff.
