AP CM OPTS FOR COMMON QUEUE AT TIRUMALA ON GRANDSON’S BIRTHDAY

Tirumala, March 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by his family, offered special prayers to Lord Venkateswara at the hill shrine of Tirumala on Saturday morning. The visit was marked by a significant departure from VVIP protocol, as the Chief Minister chose to stand in the general queue alongside common devotees.

The family visit coincided with the birthday of the Chief Minister’s grandson, Nara Devaansh. Joining Mr. Naidu were his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari, his son and Minister Nara Lokesh, daughter-in-law Brahmani, and the birthday boy, Devaansh. Despite being entitled to the Maha Dwara Darsanam (VVIP entrance), the family entered through the Vaikuntam Queue Complex, with the Chief Minister interacting warmly with fellow pilgrims along the way.

Following the darshan, the family proceeded to the Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadanam Complex. In a long-standing family tradition, they donated Rs. 44 lakh to the SV Annadanam Trust, covering the entire cost of one day’s meals for the thousands of devotees who visit the shrine.

Witnesses at the complex observed the Chief Minister and Nara Lokesh personally serving breakfast to the pilgrims. “It is a tradition we follow every year on Devaansh’s birthday,” Mr. Naidu told reporters. “Serving the devotees of Lord Venkateswara brings our family immense peace and satisfaction.”

The Chief Minister also used the visit to inspect the facilities at the temple. He reportedly spent time at the queue lines and the Annadanam complex to gather direct feedback from pilgrims regarding the quality of food and the efficiency of the darshan process. TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu and Executive Officer M. Ravichandra accompanied the family during the visit.

Later in the day, the Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate a state-of-the-art Water and Food Analysis Laboratory and a State Food Laboratory, established in collaboration with the FSSAI, before departing for Hyderabad.