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Abhishek Bachchan and his wife Aishwarya Rai perform prayers at the Tirupati temple yesterday
TIRUPATI: Bollywood star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai yesterday prayed at the Tirupati temple here, making their first public appearance after their high-profile wedding two days ago.
Accompanied by family members and friends, the couple spent 20 minutes at the Ranganayaka Mandapam of the temple and prayed to Lord Balaji, the presiding deity. To the chants of Vedic hymns by 11 priests, the couple offered prayers.
A smiling Aishwarya was clad in a golden coloured sari and sported the traditional vermilion mark on her forehead signifying marriage, while Abhishek was attired in a white kurta pyjama.
Both cheerfully waved to the huge crowds in the temple complex.
Abhishek?s father and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and mother Jaya also prayed at the temple.
Among others in the entourage were Abhishek?s sister Shweta, her children, industrialist Anil Ambani, his wife Tina and politician Amar Singh.
Hundreds of devotees scrambled to catch a glimpse of the newly-weds.
Security personnel had a tough time keeping the crowds at bay.
The Bachchans flew into Renigunta airport near here in the morning by a chartered aircraft from Mumbai and drove to the temple. After spending two hours in the temple town, they flew back to Mumbai.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the temple, had made elaborate arrangements for the VIP guests.
Bachchan senior, a staunch devotee of Lord Balaji, visited the temple April 15. He had also placed the first wedding invitation card at the feet of the deity seeking blessings for the couple.
Meanwhile, an Orissa artist has crafted lacquer dolls - a bride and groom - for the newly-weds.
Kesudas, a middle-aged painter and lacquer craftsman, has been working on reviving the ancient lacquer art through his organisation, Baleswari Kala Kendra (BKK), in northern Orissa.
?I have sent the Kandheis idols through courier and hope it will reach them by Monday, the day of their fourth night,? said Kesudas, a resident of Balasore town.
?Lac toys (both bride and groom) are considered auspicious for married couples. According to folklore, the toys help to sustain good relationship in married couples. Hence, many families here keep such toys in the hope that their relationship won?t break.?
Source IANS