Chandrababu Naidu offers silk robes at Tirumala temple amid laddu row

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu visited the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala on Friday, marking the first day of the annual Brahmotsavams.

In Short

• Amid row over laddu, Chandrababu Naidu visited Tirumala's Lord Venkateswara temple
• The Andhra Pradesh chief minister offered silk robes to the deity
• Tirumala temple board officials honoured Naidu with Sri Vari’s Sesha Vastram

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu visited the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala on Friday, marking the first day of the annual Brahmotsavams.

Accompanied by his wife, Naidu offered "pattu vastrams" (silk robes) to the deity on behalf of the state government. The couple carried the silk clothes on a golden plate atop their heads, entering the temple through the main entrance.

After the offering, temple chief priests tied the Parivattam (sacred thread) to Naidu, who wore the traditional Thirunaamam on his forehead. TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao and Additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary honoured Naidu with Sri Vari’s Sesha Vastram (sacred cloth).

Earlier that day, the Supreme Court ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations that the previous Andhra Pradesh government used substandard ghee containing animal fat to prepare laddu prasadam at Tirupati temple.

The SIT, supervised by the CBI and including state police officers and a member from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), will investigate the claims. Noting that the allegations had the potential of hurting sentiments of people worldwide, the Supreme Court said the SIT investigation would be monitored by the CBI director.