TIRUMALA: President of India Droupadi Murmu offered prayers at the hill shrine of Sri Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala Temple on Friday and later surprised fellow devotees by distributing sweets and chocolates at Rambagicha Guest House after her darshan in front of the main temple.
The President had darshan of the presiding deity along with her family members and entourage. Following temple tradition, she first offered prayers at the Sri Varaha Swamy Temple before proceeding to the Maha Dwaram of the Tirumala Temple, where TTD Trust Board Chairman BR Naidu, EO AK Singhal and Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary received her with the customary Isthikaphal welcome.
Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy also accompanied her for Srivari Darshan. After offering prayers inside the sanctum sanctorum, the President was presented with Sesha Vastram. Veda pundits rendered Veda Ashirvachanam at the Ranganayakula Mandapam.
She later received Theertha Prasadams, a portrait of Srivaru, and the 2026 Diaries and Calendars published by TTD from the Chairman and EO.
TTD Trust Board members Panabaka Lakshmi, Janaki Devi Bhanuprakash Reddy, Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary, CVSO Muralikrishna, District Collector Dr Venkateswar, SP Subbarayudu and others were also present.
According to officials and eyewitnesses, the President asked her team to bring the bags she had carried with her, which had been kept in the green room arranged by TTD and the government. She checked the sweets and chocolates before distributing them personally to devotees.
Several devotees who happened to pass by described themselves as “lucky enough” to receive sweets from the President, and expressed happiness that she interacted with them despite not knowing any of them personally.
Security personnel were momentarily surprised, as the interaction with devotees was not part of the official programme. However, senior officials told the TNIE that “Madam happily interacted with the people, gifted them sweets, and enquired about their well-being.”
The President spent about seven minutes with the devotees after stepping out of the convoy. Devotees quickly gathered around and shared their experience of meeting the first citizen of the nation.