CM Chandrababu Naidu Offers Special Prayers at Historic Gangamma Temple in Kuppam

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday visited the revered Sri Prasanna Tirupati Gangamma Temple in Kuppam , where he took part in special rituals amid the ongoing annual temple festivities.

Accompanied by his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari , the Chief Minister offered prayers to Goddess Gangamma and presented silk robes to the deity as part of traditional customs followed during the celebrations. Temple priests welcomed the couple with ceremonial honours and Vedic chants before conducting the special puja rituals.

According to officials, the couple also offered the sacred Tirumala Srivari prasadam at the temple. Following the rituals, priests blessed them with Vedic ashirvachanam , while devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the visit. The temple premises wore a festive and spiritual look throughout the programme, with tight security arrangements in place due to the Chief Minister’s presence.

The annual Gangamma Jatara holds deep cultural significance in the region and attracts devotees from several parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. The festival is closely associated with local folk traditions and is considered one of the prominent spiritual events in the Kuppam region.

Later, during his return journey, Chandrababu Naidu made an unscheduled stop near Tanjammakottalu after noticing toddy-tapping workers collecting fresh taati munjalu — the naturally cooled palm fruit kernels popularly consumed during summer.

The Chief Minister, along with Bhuvaneswari, interacted with the workers and tasted the seasonal delicacy by the roadside. Photographs of the moment were later shared on social media, drawing attention for their simple and rustic charm.

Speaking about the experience, Chandrababu Naidu praised traditional rural food products and highlighted the purity of naturally available local produce.

“There is no adulteration, no carbide treatment, and no pesticide contamination. Eating these cool taati munjalu by the roadside felt refreshing and pure, much like the hearts of the people of Kuppam,” he said.

He further noted that traditional village foods continue to offer healthier and more sustainable alternatives in today’s increasingly processed food culture.