Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched Kannada and Hindi versions of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)-run Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel (SVBC) and inaugurated a new Boondi complex in Tirumala on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister, on the second day of his two-day visit to the hill town, offered prayers to Lord Venkateshwara inside the temple in the early hours on Tuesday. Accompanied by TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy, the Chief Minister was welcomed by TTD EO Dr. K.S. Jawahar Reddy and additional EO A.V. Dharma Reddy at Mahadwaram. After darshan, he offered 78 kilos of rice – equal to his body weight – at the Tulabharam inside the temple, as part of fulfilment of a vow.
After stepping out of the temple, the Chief Minister launched Kannada and Hindi versions of SVBC in the presence of Subudendra Thirtha Swamy of Mantralayam Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt.
It may be recalled that the temple administration commenced SVBC under the directive of the then Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, with an aim to take forward the divine glory of Lord Venkateshwara across the globe. Under the chairmanship of the then TTD trust board chief and present Tirupati MLA B. Karunakar Reddy, the SVBC was inaugurated by the then President of India Pratibha Patil on July 7, 2008.
Following frequent appeals from Tamil Nadu-based devotees across the globe, the TTD launched the Tamil version of SVBC on April 14, 2017, on the occasion of Tamil Ugadi. After similar requests from Kannada and Hindi speaking devotees of Lord Venkateshwara, now the TTD's devotional channel was launched in both these languages as well on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the new Boondi complex near the Tirumala temple. TTD trust board member N. Srinivasan built and donated the new Boondi complex at a cost of '112 crore. The new building set up in an area of 8,541 square feet has 40 thermic fluid stoves in place. With the new Boondi Potu now being inaugurated, the TTD now plans to produce 6 lakh Srivari laddus a day.
Meanwhile, the TTD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) on natural farming in the presence of the Chief Minister at Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala. Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed various development programmes being implemented by the TTD, while Jawahar Reddy briefed him about the innovative programmes launched by the TTD.
The Chief Minister appreciated the contributions of the TTD to the fields of education, health and research and the spiritual wellbeing of the society. MPs P.V. Mithun Reddy, Dr. Maddila Gurumurthy, V. Prabhakar Reddy, Ministers K. Narayana Swamy, V. Srinivasa Rao, P. Ramachandra Reddy, Venugopala Krishna and MLA B. Karunakar Reddy and others were present.
