The newly-constructed Lord Sri Venkateswara temple was opened in a ceremonious way in the national capital city of New Delhi on Wednesday.
Constructed in a 1.17 acre area in Udyan Marg at a cost of Rs 11.5 crore, the temple was opened amidst chanting of vedic hymns by temple priests with religious aplomb, an official release by the TTD said.
Speaking on the occasion, TTD Trust Board chairman Kanumuru Bapiraju said it is indeed a pious moment to open a temple of Lord Venkateswara in the country’s capital city. “The dream has come true after 16 long years,’’ an excited Bapiraju said.
Stating that the TTD is contemplating to begin Nityannaprasadam (free distribution of food) soon in this temple on the lines of Tirumala, he said that there will be spiritual discourses and cultural programmes every day in the meditation hall. ‘’We are also planning to invite the seers and pontiffs of various mutts across the country to stay a day in this meditation hall during the auspicious Dhanurmasa (holy month which usually occurs between December 16 to January 15),’’ he said.
The Dhyan Mandir (meditation hall) will be inaugurated on Thursday.
Complimenting donor Nirmal Sethia for his initiation for construction of the temple in New Delhi, the TTD chairman said that veteran South Indian actress Kanchana has donated land worth several crores to the TTD some years ago.
“Devotion knows no bounds as the philanthropists are coming forward to donate for the construction of dhyan mandirs and temples of Lord Venkateswara in many parts of the country which is a welcoming gesture,” he noted.
Stating that ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Balaji temple at Kanyakumari will be held on June 4, he said the temple of the Lord will come up in the historical city of Kurukshetra also very soon.
Earlier in the day special pujas and rituals were performed to mark the occasion. Devotees were later allowed for darshan of the Lord.
TTD executive officer LV Subramanyam, executive engineer Jaganmohan Reddy, AEO Ananda Raju, Laxminarayana Yadav, deputy EE Prakash and others were also present.