United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, embarked on a spiritual visit to the Akshardham Temple in Delhi on Sunday. This visit occurred as part of Sunak’s official itinerary during his stay in the city for the G20 Summit.
Early in the morning, Sunak and Akshata arrived at the Akshardham Temple to offer their prayers before proceeding to Rajghat. Both were captured in traditional attire, with Akshata donning a salwar kurta. Significantly, they explored the temple premises barefoot, showcasing their reverence.
Sunak’s desire to visit a temple in the capital was expressed during an interaction on Friday when he identified himself as “a proud Hindu.” He emphasized the importance of faith in providing strength and resilience in the face of stress and mentioned his hope to find time to visit a temple during his stay.
The Akshardham Temple welcomed the esteemed visitors, tweeting, “Honoured to welcome Prime Minister @RishiSunak and #AkshataMurthy to celebrate the shared cultural heritage between India and the UK.” The temple’s statement revealed that Sunak and his convoy arrived at 6.45 in the morning and were greeted with traditional Hindu customs symbolizing goodwill and friendship.
Sunak received warm greetings from swamis and senior leaders from the temple, who conveyed a special message from Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS. The message extended personal wishes and prayers for Sunak and the other summit delegates.
During their visit, UK PM and his wife admired the temple’s architectural and artistic aspects, paid their respects to sacred images, and performed abhishek (ritual pouring of water) on the murti of Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj, offering prayers for world peace, progress, and harmony.
Jyotindra Dave, the Akshardham Temple Director, described US Prime Minister’s visit as an “extraordinary experience” and noted the prime minister’s deep faith and involvement in the temple rituals.
As Sunak and Akshata continue their stay in India for the G20 Summit, their visit to the Akshardham Temple underscores the cultural and spiritual ties that connect India and the UK.
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