British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, along with his wife Akshata Murty, revered the Akshardham Temple in Delhi on Sunday, enriching their understanding of India’s age-old cultural heritage and indulging in spiritual customs. Dressed in a composed attire, the couple was received with a traditional greeting early in the morning before the commencement of the G20 summit.
At the auspicious venue, which mirrors India’s spiritual messages and ancient architectural grandeur across 100 acres, the couple performed rituals including Abhishek, invoking blessings for global peace, harmony, and growth. The visit was accentuated with exchanges about the remarkable architecture and history of the temple, displaying India’s profound traditions and spiritual narratives. Sunak expressed being “amazed and awed” by the temple’s beauty and its emblematic messaging emphasising peace and humanity.
The couple showed reverence to the sacred depictions inside the complex and were fascinated by the artistic dexterity manifested in the temple’s infrastructure. Further, they extended well wishes for the inauguration of another Akshardham temple in Robbinsville, USA, slated to open soon under the aegis of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.
Sunak praised the positive influence the British-Indian community has back in Britain, aligning with the cultural and humanitarian values that the temple stood for. Reflecting a spirit of unity and public service, Brahmavihari Swami reciprocated the honour of hosting the UK Prime Minister, citing the deep-rooted friendship and vibrant cultural interchanges fostering UK-India relations.
Post the enriching experience at the temple, Sunak participated in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, integrating this spiritual journey with his role at the ongoing G20 Summit in Delhi. In related news from the summit, Sunak reportedly confronted Chinese Premier Li Qiang regarding alleged Chinese interventions in UK’s parliamentary democracy following a revelation concerning spying accusations levelled against two individuals.
In a pledge demonstrating the UK’s commitment to combating climate change, the prime minister also declared a substantial allocation of USD 2 billion to the Green Climate Fund, marking it as the UK’s significant solitary endowment towards nurturing a climate-resilient future globally. The announcement came as part of Sunak’s agenda during his current visit to India for the G20 summit, emphasising a collaborative approach towards a prosperous and secure environment.
