Tamil Nadu Chief Minister offers prayers at Kanaka Durga temple, attends Vijayawada Utsav

VIJAYAWADA

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay offered prayers at the Sri Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri and later attended Vijayawada Utsav 2.0 at Punnami Ghat here on Tuesday, emphasising the importance of youth power, development and cooperation among southern States.

Mr. Vijay, who arrived at the hill shrine in traditional attire, was welcomed by temple priests. He greeted devotees waiting in queues with folded hands before offering special prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga.

After the darshan, Vedic scholars blessed him at the Aniveti Mandapam. Endowments Secretary K. Kannababu, Commissioner K. Ramachandra Mohan, temple trust board chairman Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi) and Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik presented him with sacred robes, prasadam and a portrait of the Goddess.

Later, Mr. Vijay joined Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at Vijayawada Utsav 2.0. Welcoming him on his first visit to Vijayawada after assuming office, Mr. Naidu said it was as though Goddess Kanaka Durga herself had invited him to the city.

Congratulating the organisers, Mr. Naidu said the enthusiasm of young people reinforced his confidence in India’s future. He addressed the gathering in fluent Telugu and concluded his speech with a mix of Telugu and Tamil.

Mr. Naidu said Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka should prosper together, with national development as their common objective. He expressed confidence that the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river interlinking project would become a reality, benefiting four States. He also said India could emerge as the world’s leading nation by 2047.

Mr. Vijay said he was delighted to meet the people of Vijayawada and privileged to participate in the Navaratri celebrations. Thanking them for their warm hospitality, he said the visit had also provided an opportunity to discuss river interlinking with Mr. Naidu. He extended his greetings to the people and congratulated the organisers and artistes associated with the festival.