UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty spent 45 minutes on the Akshardham Temple.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty spent 45 minutes on the Akshardham Temple right here on Sunday morning, providing prayers and studying about its structure and historical past, in accordance to temple administration officers.
They reached the temple devoted to Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, early morning and walked barefoot from the reception space to the principle temple advanced — a distance of about 150 metres.
Sunak, who was wearing a crisp white shirt and navy blue trousers, and his wife, who paired a beige kurta with a brilliant pink dupatta and free pants, have been accorded a standard welcome on the temple.
Sunak and his wife spent about 45 minutes on the Akshardham temple and provided prayers. They have been gifted a marble elephant and a marble peacock moreover a particular reproduction of Akshardham, a senior temple administration official instructed PTI.
“It rained but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife graciously offered prayers at our temple and it is a matter of great honour for us to have hosted them at this revered temple,” he stated.
A trustee of the BAPS Swaminarayan Trust, UK and a volunteer from the Neasden temple in London accompanied Sunak and his wife throughout their visit, stated one other temple administration official who was a part of the reception staff.
“Prime Minister Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty walked barefoot in the temple premises even in rainy weather. From the reception area to the main temple complex, there is a distance of about 150 metres and both of them walked barefoot back and forth,” the official instructed PTI.
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They first provided flower petals (pushparpan) to the golden idol of Swaminarayan ji after which provided ‘aarti’, he stated. “They also offered flower petals to idols of Sita-Ram, Radha-Krishna, Laxmi Narayana and Shiva-Parvati in the temple complex. The UK PM enquired about the architecture of the temple and its history,” the official stated.
He additionally noticed a number of the sanctified gadgets that belonged to Swaminarayan ji, resembling footwear and a garland, the official added. After the visit, Sunak joined the G20 leaders to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat. Sunak and different world leaders have gathered in Delhi to attend the two-day G20 Summit that started on Saturday.
