Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu commenced the annual Brahmotsavams at Tirumala by offering a sacred pair of ‘pattu vastrams’ (silk robes) on behalf of the State government to Lord Venkateswara.
The Chief Minister was joined by his wife, Nara Bhuvaneswari, his son and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, his daughter-in-law N. Brahmani, and their son N. Devaansh, along with other family members.
Dressed in vibrant yellow silk attire, Mr. Naidu carried the ‘pattu vastrams’ on his head in a silver plate, walking from the Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy temple to the main temple. There, he reverently handed them over to the chief priest. These exquisite silk robes are destined to adorn the presiding deity on September 28, the auspicious day of Garuda Seva.
Mr. Naidu spent approximately ten minutes in profound devotion before the main deity. Following this, the chief priest bestowed upon him the ‘sesha vastram’ (sacred cloth) of the Lord, accompanied by ‘vedasirvachanams’ (Vedic blessings) from the temple priests and the presentation of laddu prasadams by the temple authorities. During the ceremony, he also officially unveiled the 2026 New Year calendar.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Naidu shared that he has had the rare privilege of offering ‘silk vastrams’ fourteen times throughout his life, an opportunity he attributes solely to the divine grace of Lord Venkateswara.
In a poignant reference to his miraculous survival during the Alipiri bomb blast 22 years ago, Mr. Naidu stated that Lord Venkateswara, whom he deeply reveres, granted him a second life and a renewed sense of purpose.
Highlighting the importance of expanding the divine presence, Mr. Naidu advocated for the establishment of Lord Venkateswara temples in all state capitals across India and other significant locations. He announced his intention to send formal requests to the respective governments.
He also recalled various pilgrim-centric initiatives introduced during his party’s previous rule, such as the Nitya Annadanam (daily free meal service) pioneered by N.T. Rama Rao, and Srivari Seva (volunteer service). He urged the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) authorities to continue serving visiting pilgrims with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication.
Later in the day, Mr. Naidu participated in the grand procession of the ‘Pedda Sesha Vahanam,’ which is the inaugural chariot festival of the Brahmotsavams.
During his visit, he also met Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan at the Vahana Mandapam, who had arrived for darshan. Subsequently, TTD officials guided the Vice-President into the temple for his prayers.