Pranab offers prayers at Venkateswara temple

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near Tirupati.

Mukherjee, accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy, was in the temple for about 30 minutes. Before leaving the shrine, Mukherjee was presented with sacred laddu prasadam and holy water by temple management, temple sources told PTI.

After his worship, Mukherjee left for New Delhi, the sources said.

This was his second visit to the ancient hill shrine. He had worshipped Lord Venkateswara when he was the External Affairs Minister on August 25, 2007, the sources said.