Amitabh visits Tirupati Temple

Ahead of his son Abhishek's marriage with Aishwarya Rai, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday offered special prayers at the venerated Tirupati Temple.

Accompanied by friends, industrialist Anil Ambani and politician Amar Singh, Amitabh reached the temple located on the Tirumala Hills and sought the blessings of Lord Venkateswara, also known as Lord Balaji, the presiding deity. The superstar placed the first wedding invitation card at the feet of the deity seeking blessings for Abhishek and Aishwarya, who are to tie the knot on April 20. The trio made a donation of Rs.5.1 million each to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which runs the affairs of the country's richest temple, for education of poor children and treatment of poor patients.


TTD officials, who welcomed the trio as they reached the temple premises, took them to the sanctum sanctorum through the special entrance for VVIPs. Temple sources said the visit by the VVIPs did not cause any inconvenience to thousands of common devotees standing for 'darshan'.

About 50,000 people offer prayers at the temple every day and on special occasions the number cross 100,000. The devotees offer prayers and make huge offerings on fulfilment of their wishes, recovery from health problems, victory in elections or success in business or other missions.