Modi offers prayers at Tirumala temple; seeks peace, harmony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid obeisance at Lord Venkateswara temple here and later said that he sought divine blessings for the country to progress in peace, unity and harmony.

"May there be peace, unity and harmony in the country. May we succeed in eliminating poverty. May Lord Balaji bless the country for happiness and prosperity in the common man's life," the prime minister said after the temple visit.

Modi, who was on a day-long visit to Andhra Pradesh, said it was his good fortune that he received the blessings of Lord Balaji on Vijaya Dasami.

Accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and central ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu and Ashok Gajapathi Raju, he took part in various rituals amid the chanting of vedic hymns by a group of priests.

Priests and the temple authorities offered 'laddu' and other sacred offerings to Modi, who was on his first visit to Tirumala temple after taking over as the prime minister last year.

The visit to the temple was the last on Modi's busy schedule for the day.