Union Minister Rammohan Naidu offers prayers at Lord Venkateswara Temple
Tirupati, May 24
Union Minister Rammohan Naidu on Sunday visited the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam in Andhra Pradesh after undertaking the traditional foot pilgrimage from Alipiri to Tirumala, climbing nearly 3,400 steps along with his family to offer prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Naidu described the journey as a "divine experience" and said the pilgrimage had been a long-standing tradition in his family since childhood.
"I'm very happy to visit the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati today. What is special today for me is that I've climbed 3,400 steps from Alipiri to Tirumala, which almost took me four hours," Naidu said.
The Union Minister recalled that he had undertaken the walk multiple times over the years, including during his tenure as a Member of Parliament, but said this was his first visit as a Union Minister accompanied by his wife and children.
"For the first time after becoming a Central Minister, I have come with my family, especially my kids, my daughter and my son. It is always a very divine experience walking the steps," he said.
Naidu praised Tirumala as one of the world's strongest spiritual destinations and highlighted the positive energy devotees experience at the shrine.
"This is one of the strongest spiritual destinations not only in the country but also in the world. Once you come to Tirupati and stand in front of Lord Balaji, it gives you immense inner strength to face any challenges in life," he added.
The Minister also spoke about the importance of preserving India's cultural and spiritual traditions. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for promoting and protecting the country's cultural heritage.
"This is the culture that defines our country. It is important to protect it, nurture it and pass it on to future generations so that India remains rooted in its traditions even in the future," Naidu said.
During the pilgrimage, the Union Minister interacted with several devotees and shared the example of a young student climbing the steps on his knees as a mark of devotion.
"That kind of willpower and discipline at such a young age is inspiring. Lord Venkateswara blesses devotees with the strength to face every challenge in life," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm not religious myself, but I can appreciate the discipline and family bonding here. Walking up 3,400 steps with your children - that's quality time most politicians don't seem to have. Respect for making this a priority.
Tirumala is truly special - the energy there is unmatched. I'm glad the Minister used his visit to highlight cultural preservation. But I hope this isn't just a photo-op; many politicians do padayatra then forget about the common man's issues. Let's see if he visits the local villages too.
That story about the young student climbing on his knees really hit me. Such devotion inspires us all. We need more leaders who value these traditions instead of just talking about modernity. Naidu ji's family coming along shows genuine commitment.
I visited Tirumala once as a tourist and was blown away by the atmosphere. The Minister is right - it gives you strength. I just wish the temple management would improve crowd management. The queues are inhumanely long sometimes.
Good to see a politician crediting PM Modi and CM Chandrababu Naidu for preserving culture. But let's not forget the TTD needs better transparency. The laddus and donations should be managed properly. Spiritual visits are nice, but accountability matters too.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.