US senators, Congressman visit Golden Temple

AMRITSAR: A five-member high-level delegation from the United States, comprising four senators and a representative Congressman, visited the Golden Temple here and paid their obeisance on Friday.

Earlier, New York senator

Kirsten Gillibrand

, New Jersey’s Cory Booker, Rhode Island’s Sheldon Whitehouse and Arizona’s Mark Kelly, besides New York-17 representative Congressman

Mondaire Jones

, were received by cabinet minister Harjot Bains at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said America supports its Sikhs. “I serve on the Armed Forces Committee there and we have made a provision that all Sikhs can wear their religious head coverings (turban) while they serve."

She also praised the tradition of langar (community meal) served without any discrimination.

Before paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, the US delegation visited

Sri Guru Ramdas

Ji langar where they were apprised of the maryada (rules).

The US delegates were also honoured with siropa (robe of honour), a model of the Golden Temple and books related to the Sikh faith.

Kirsten said, "We have come to worship, and we have not only been inspired by what we have seen here but are also amazed after visiting this holy place. The generosity of the (Sikh) community to provide food (langar) for anyone who wants it, to work together to make sure millions of people can be fed right here from the community kitchen and to allow millions of people from across the world to worship in this most sacred and special place. We are honoured to be here and we are grateful.”

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