The last time Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was in February 2020, weeks -- nay days -- before the pandemic ravaged India and parts of South Asia.
Even though he is a Buddhist, Percy Mahinda Rajapaksa makes a pilgrimage to Tirupati every year to worship at the famous Hindu shrine.
Please click on the images for a better look.
IMAGE: Mahinda Rajapaksa -- inarguably the most powerful politician in Sri Lanka -- and his wife Shiranthi pray at the Tirumala Venkateswara temple.
The Rajapaksas arrived in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday night, spent the night in Tirumala, worshipped the next morning and flew home the same day.
All photographs: ANI Photo
IMAGE: According to The Hindustan Times, 'After darshan, the priests performed a ritual associated with seeking blessings of Lord Shiva at the Ranganayakula Mandapam.'
'While taking a tour of the temple, Rajapaksa also deposited money into the hundi and the couple was presented with a memento, New Year calendar and diaries by authorities,' The Hindustan Times reported.
During his visit to the shrine in February 2020, the newspaper stated, 'a special puja was performed at the Devasthanam on the first anniversary of his current term.'
Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
