THE Tirupati Balaji temple was opened to devotees on the outskirts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.Amid chanting of mantras, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Ministers Dr Jitendra Singh and G Kishen Reddy inaugurated the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy at the Majeen area. After paying their obeisance at the sanctity sanctum, the dignitaries attended the dedication ceremony of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, spread across over 62 acres of land in the lower Shivalik forests, to the devotees. Hundreds of people from various places in Jammu thronged to pay obeisance to the temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. The devotees from Andhra Pradesh in large numbers also took part in the inaugural function.

 

“It is a historic moment in the Sanatan Journey of J&K and the country. The temple has been opened to devotees,” Sinha said while addressing the inauguration function. The function was attended by LG along with Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Dr Jitendra Singh, Chairman, TTD, Y V Subba Reddy. “The dedication of Lord Venkateswara temple will strengthen religious tourism circuit in J&K and give a boost to spiritual tourism and a major fillip to the economic development and employment in the Union Territory,” LG said.