Union Minister Amit Shah visits Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala

    Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday offered prayers at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple here and said his visit was a thanksgiving for the BJP securing its mayoral post in the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation.
    Shah, who arrived in the state capital on Saturday night for a one-day visit, reached the temple this morning along with BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and district president Karamana Jayan.
    Clad in a traditional dhoti and kasavu (silk) shawl, Shah was received at the shrine by temple authorities and Travancore royal family member Aditya Varma.
    After the visit, temple authorities presented him with gifts, including the 'onavillu', a ceremonial painted bow dedicated to Lord Sree Padmanabha.
    Restrictions were imposed at the temple and its premises during the union minister’s visit, and heavy security was deployed.
    Shah’s visit to the centuries-old shrine comes ahead of the 'Lakshadeepam' ritual on January 14, an auspicious ceremony held at the temple once every six years, during which thousands of oil lamps are lit.
    Later in the day, while addressing newly elected BJP councillors, Shah said he had come to Kerala to offer thanksgiving at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, fulfilling his promise to return if the party succeeded in securing the mayoral post in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)