Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu visited the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Friday, marking the first day of the annual Brahmotsavam.
Accompanied by his wife, Naidu offered “pattu vastram” (silk robes) to the deity on behalf of the state government. The couple carried silk robes with a gold plate over their heads, entering the temple through the main door.
After the offering, the chief priests of the temple tied the Parivattam (sacred thread) to Naidu, who wore the traditional Thirunaamam on his forehead. TTD Chief Executive Officer Shyamala Rao and additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary honored Naidu with Sri Vari’s Sesha Vastram (holy cloth).
Earlier that day, the The Supreme Court has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate on allegations that the previous Andhra Pradesh government used substandard ghee with animal fat to prepare laddu prasadam in the Tirupati temple.
The SIT, overseen by the CBI and including the state police and a member from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), will investigate the claims. Noting that these allegations have the potential to hurt the sentiments of people across the world, the Supreme Court said that the SIT investigation will be looked into by the CBI director.