: A large number of Muslim men and burqa-clad women as well as children queued up along with Hindu devotees to have darshan of Sri Venkateswara Swamy and Padmavathi Devi and offered prayers in the Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swamy temple at Devunikadapa in Kadapa town on Ugadi.

The Muslim women gave offerings of flowers, rice, salt, pulses, jaggery, tamarind, chillis, sugarcane, neem fruits and vegetables to the presiding deities and broke coconuts in the temple.

Belief

The offerings are made on the Ugadi festival every year as Muslims believe that Bibi Nancharamma, a consort of Lord Venkateswara Swamy, is their daughter and refer to the Lord as their son-in-law.

The Muslim men and women take harathi, consume the teertham and prasadam and accept the “satagopam” placed on their head by the temple priests, in tune with an age-old tradition.

A Muslim elder said: “We clean out houses, have bath and keep non-vegetarian diet away on Telugu New Year Day, visit Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swamy temple and offer pooja to the presiding deities.”

While the nation is engrossed with debates on intolerance, religious tolerance and communal amity was amply evident in the historic temple at Devunikadapa, said to be the threshold to the Tirumala temple.





The Muslim women give offerings to the presiding deities and break coconuts