Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani Donates Rs 1.5 Crore To Tirupati Balaji Temple

After offering prayers at the famous hill shrine in Andhra Pradesh, Ambani handed over the demand draft to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) EO Sri AV Dharma Reddy.

Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani on Friday donated Rs 1.5 crore to Tirumala temple. After offering prayers at the famous hill shrine in Andhra Pradesh, Ambani handed over the demand draft to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) EO Sri AV Dharma Reddy at Ranganayakula Mandapam in Tirumala.

The industrialist had darshan and participated in the rituals performed by the temple priests. The billionaire also paid a visit to the SV Goshala at Tirumala. Andhra Pradesh MPs Sri Gurumurthy, Sri Vijaysai Reddy, and Chandragiri Legislator Sri C Bhaskar Reddy were also present.

Ambani, along with Radhika Merchant, who is the daughter of Encore Healthcare CEO Viren Merchant, and other RIL officials arrived in the hills in the wee hours of Friday.

Earlier, Ambani, an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateswara, had donated Rs 5 crore to Tirumala temple in 2010. At that time, temple sources told PTI that the donation was made to meet the TTD's ongoing Rs 100-crore gold plating project for the sanctum sanctorum.

According to a Deccan Chronicle report, at the upcoming Srivari annual Brahmotsavams in Tirumala, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has been preparing to present various folk art forms and puranic episodes as part of the cultural programmes accompanying the Vahana Sevas.

The Srivari Brahmotsavams will be conducted this year from September 27 to October 5. In addition to 88 cultural teams from seven states and Puducherry, who will perform during the nine-day festivities, the temple management has been enlisting prominent pundits to provide erudite commentary during the Vahana Sevas. 

The Brahmotsavams will feature folk art and dance performances from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Puducherry. Performers from the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala will also be present.

The 88 teams will perform folk dance and puranic tales at the Vahana Sevas, with 50 from HDPP, 24 from Dasa Sahitya Project, and 14 from Annamacharya Project showcasing their talent.