After addressing closing ceremony of World Telugu Conference, Prez Kovind pays tributes to Gautam Buddha statue

Hyderabad, December 20: Today President Ram Nath Kovind returned to New Delhi after paying visit to Gautama Buddha’s statue at Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad. After becoming President, this was his first visit to Hyderabad where he was the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony of World Telugu Conference held at Lal Bahadur Stadium on Tuesday. 

Amidst high-security arrangements near Tank Bund area, President Kovind arrived at the Lumbini Park and took a special boat ride to the Buddha statue in the middle of Hussain Sagar. As Buddhist monks chanted prayers, he paid tributes to Buddha statue and later, interacted with the monks. He was accompanied by Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and other dignitaries. He was given an explanation about the Buddha statue which is considered as world’s tallest monolith statue of Buddha.

 

Earlier in the morning, President Kovind visited Government High School at Raj Bhavan and interacted with students. Governor Narasimhan, Deputy Chief Ministers Kadiyam Srihari, Mohd Mahmood Ali, former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and others were also present.

Later, Governor Narasimhan, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and other dignitaries gave an official send off to the President at Begumpet airport. He took a special flight to Delhi and is expected to return to Hyderabad on December 24 to spend four days at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bollarum of Secunderabad as part of his customary winter sojourn in the city. The officials are decking up the Rashtrapati Nilayam in this regard.