Several VIPs on Friday flocked the hill shrine, at Tirumala, for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Prominent among others who visited the hill shrine included the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh, Governor ESL Narasimhan and his Punjab counterpart Shivraj Patil and Minister from the state P. Sudarshan Reddy.

While Governor Narasimhan and Chief Minister Raman Singh participated in the weekly Abhishekam of the deity in the early hours of the day, other dignitaries visited the temple during the morning VIP break.

The temple authorities had a tough time making arrangements for the darshan of the dignitaries besides extending them the temple honours.

The TTDs Chairman K. Bapiraju, Executive officer LV Subramanyam, JEO KS Srinivasa Raju and CVSO GVG Ashok Kumar were prominent among others who received them at the main temple complex. Meanwhile the Minister for Major Irrigation P. Sudarshan Reddy donated Rs. 10 lakhs to the TTDs Nitya Annadanam scheme.