Dharmasthala (K'taka), Oct 29 (PTI) Prime MinisterNarendra Modi today offered prayers at the ancient LordManjunatheshwara temple here in the coastal Dakshina Kannadadistrict of Karnataka.
Modi, on a day-long visit to the state to attend variouspublic functions, earlier landed in Mangaluru, about 80 kmfrom here, and flew in a helicopter to this temple town.
The prime minister waved to the crowd, who chanted "Modi,Modi", as he stood at the entrance, before proceeding to offerprayers at the temple.
He was accorded a traditional welcome at the temple,where Dharmadhikari (hereditary administrator) D VeerendraHeggade took him around.
"I am happy that I got the opportunity to pray to LordManjunatha," Modi was quoted as saying in a tweet by the primeminister's office.
Modi visited Dharmasthala and nearby Ujire at theinvitation of Heggade.
At Ujire, the prime minister attended a function of theShri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, where hedistributed Rupay cards and launched the 'Digitised SHG(self-help group) Member Transaction' and 'Preserve MotherEarth' campaigns.
The Dharmasthala temple is one of the renowned religiouslandmarks of south India with a history of over 800 years. PTIMVG RA VSRC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.