British PM Rishi Sunak’s spiritual visit to Akshardham Temple during G20 summit in Delhi

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Visits Akshardham Temple in Delhi

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, along with his wife Akshata Murty, visited the Akshardham temple in Delhi during his visit to the city for the G20 Summit. Sunak had expressed his desire to visit a temple during his stay in Delhi and called himself a “proud Hindu” during a media interaction on Friday. The couple spent about an hour at the temple, where Sunak went barefoot inside, following Hindu traditions. They performed various religious rituals, including aarti and puja, and were warmly received by the temple authorities.

Warm Reception and Religious Experience at Akshardham Temple

Rishi Sunak and his wife’s visit to the Akshardham temple was a significant event during their stay in Delhi. The director of the temple, Jyotindra Dave, shared that Sunak contacted them to arrange the visit and expressed his desire to have darshan (sacred viewing) at the temple. He mentioned that Sunak participated in various religious activities, including offering flowers to the temple idols and meeting with the temple’s saints. The temple authorities also presented Sunak with a model of the temple as a gift.

Ahead of their visit, security around the temple was heightened, with increased police presence due to the ongoing G20 Summit in Delhi. Sunak had previously mentioned his desire to visit a temple during his stay, emphasizing his Hindu heritage and values. He expressed his hopes of making up for not being able to celebrate the Hindu festival Krishna Janmashtami by visiting a temple during his visit to Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Meeting with Rishi Sunak

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and discussed ways to strengthen trade ties and boost investments between the two countries. The visit of the British Prime Minister and his wife was marked by a warm welcome from Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who greeted them with “Jai Siya Ram.” As a gesture of hospitality, they were presented with spiritual items, including Rudraksh beads, a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, and a Hanuman Chalisa.

In summary, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to the Akshardham temple in Delhi was a significant religious and cultural experience during his participation in the G20 Summit. Sunak’s expression of his Hindu heritage and values, along with his visit to the temple, highlighted the importance of his connection to his roots while engaging in diplomatic discussions with Indian leaders during his stay in Delhi.

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