Muslims seek blessings at temple in Andhra’s Kadapa on occasion of Ugadi
India Today
Muslim devotees in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadappa district came to the Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy temple at Devuni on the occasion of Ugadi to seek the blessings of the lord.
On the occasion of Telugu New year, Ugadi, Muslims sought blessings at a temple in Andhra Pradeh’s Kadapa district.
The Telugu state celebrated the beginning of the new year on Saturday. Following rituals, Hindus prepared ‘Ugadi Pachadi’ and visited temples across the state.
In Kadapa, Muslims lined up at the Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy temple at Devuni to get the blessing of the lord at the beginning of the new year. The temple is located 120 km from Tirumala Tirupati, the hill abode of Lord Venkateswara.
Muslims in Rayalaseema region believe it is customary to visit the Swami every year on Ugadi. A Muslim devotee, who came to seek blessings, said, “I am a resident of Chittoor, On Ugadi, I come here for prayers. For us, January 1 is not the new year, but Ugadi is.”
Another woman devotee said that she had been coming to offer prayers at the temple for the past eight years.
“For us, like Ramadan, Ugadi is also similar to Eid. We come here to pray to the lord, break coconuts and take his blessing. Our elders also used to come here on Ugadi and we follow the tradition.
Ahead of Ugadi, Muslim devotees stop eating non-vegetarian food. They offer rice, condiments and jaggery to the lord.