Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president M.K. Stalin was presented with the prasadam of Sri Rangathaswamy Temple by a few priests outside the temple at Srirangam when he was on way to attend a wedding ceremony of a party functionary in the temple town on Friday.
Accompanied by former Minister K.N. Nehru, Mr. Stalin stopped at the entrance of the Renga Renga gopuram, the main entrance, where a few priests waiting there presented him with the prasadam, shawl and a garland.
A smiling Mr. Stalin, an avowed atheist, accepted the honour and exchanged pleasantries with the priests. A private elephant garlanded Mr. Stalin. The DMK leader offered sugarcane and jaggery to the elephant before proceeding to the wedding ceremony arranged on East Adayavalanjan street.
Speculations were rife in the town since Thursday that Mr. Stalin would visit the temple on Friday morning. However, the DMK leader proceeded without entering the shrine.
Although Mr. Stalin had visited Srirangam town on different occasions in the past, it was only this time that he was offered the honour by priests.
One of the priests Sundar Bhattar who honoured Mr. Stalin said he invited the DMK leader to visit the temple to which the latter said he had a tight schedule now and that he would visit the shrine the next time. Mr. Sundar Bhattar clarified that the honour extended to Mr. Stalin was not on behalf of the temple but by the priests in their individual capacities.
Mr. Stalin was also honoured by a group of people outside the Vellai Gopuram while on his way to attend the wedding ceremony.