NEW DELHI: British prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the Akshardham temple in Delhi on Sunday and offered prayers.
In an interview to PTI ahead of his India visit, Sunak had said, "I am hugely proud of my Indian roots and my connections to India. As you know, my wife is Indian and being a proud Hindu means I will always have a connection to India and the people of India."
The 43-year-old leader of the Conservative Party scripted history in October last year when he became the first Indian-origin British prime minister.
Sunak and his wife spent nearly an hour at the temple learning about its architecture and history, according to the temple management.
They reached the temple dedicated to Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, around 6:45 am and walked barefoot from the reception area to the main temple complex -- a distance of about 150 metres.
Sunak, who was dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy blue trousers, and his wife, who paired a beige kurta with a bright pink dupatta and loose pants, were accorded a traditional welcome at the temple.
UK PM Rishi Sunak offers prayers at Akshardham temple
Walking around the temple, the British prime minister shared his thoughts with his hosts.
"My wife and I were delighted to visit Swaminarayan Akshardham for darshan and puja this morning. We were amazed and awed by the beauty of this temple and its universal message of peace, harmony and becoming a better human being," the temple authorities quoted Sunak as saying in a statement.
"This is not only a place of worship but a landmark that also portrays India's values, culture and contributions to the world," he said.
After the visit, Sunak joined the G20 leaders to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat.
(With inputs from agencies)
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