New Delhi: The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, embarked on a spiritual journey as he visited the revered Akshardham Temple in New Delhi on a tranquil Sunday morning to offer his prayers. Ahead of this significant visit, stringent security measures were meticulously put in place in and around the temple premises to ensure a seamless experience for all.
In a conversation with ANI on the preceding Saturday, the UK Prime Minister had eagerly disclosed his plans to visit Akshardham Temple during his stay in India for the G20 Summit. He expressed his profound admiration for Prime Minister Modi and his commitment to supporting the success of the G20 Summit. Mr. Sunak proudly shared his Hindu heritage, citing it as a deeply ingrained part of his identity.
“I am a proud Hindu. That’s how I was raised, that’s who I am. Hopefully, I can visit the Mandir while I am here for the next couple of days. We just celebrated Rakshabandhan, so I have all my Rakhis from my sister and cousin,” Rishi Sunak joyfully remarked.
He regretted not having had the opportunity to celebrate Janmashtami due to his busy schedule but remained hopeful that his visit to the temple would compensate for it. The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of faith, highlighting how it provides strength and resilience during times of stress.
Akshardham Temple, in anticipation of the distinguished visit, made extensive preparations to extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Narayana Murty, on this auspicious day, as confirmed by a temple official.
“We are fully prepared for the visit of UK PM Rishi Sunak. We will extend a warm welcome to him and his wife at the grand entrance, known as Mayur Dwar, and guide them to the main Akshardham temple. If they wish to perform aarti (ritual offering), we are ready to facilitate it. Within our temple, we have deities of Radha-Krishna, Sita Ram, Lakshmi Narayana, Parvathi Parameshwara, and Ganapathi. Should they desire to offer prayers, we will make the necessary arrangements,” stated Joytindra Dave, an official representing Akshardham Temple.
Accompanied by his wife, Akshata Murty, Rishi Sunak touched down in Delhi on Friday. This visit marks Rishi Sunak’s inaugural trip to India as Prime Minister, a position he assumed in October of the previous year. India and the UK share profound ties steeped in history and culture, as affirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. The multifaceted bilateral relationship between India and the UK was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2004, underscoring the depth of their connections.