Headlines
Among hundreds of devotees, Modi offers prayers at Golden Temple
Amritsar, March 23
Walking in the midst of
hundreds of devotees, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered
prayers at the holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandir Sahib, popularly known
as Golden Temple.
This was the first time Modi came to the Sikh shrine after becoming prime minister in May last year.
Hundreds
of devotees were present at the shrine when Modi arrived. People were
not stopped from entering the shrine even during Modi's visit.
People
could be seen trying to catch a glimpse of the prime minister and many
followed his entourage as he walked around the 'parikarma' around the
sacred 'sarovar'.
Many people, including youth, could be seen taking videos and photos as Modi passed them.
The prime minister acknowledged the people with folded hands as they waved to him.
The
prime minister arrived here after paying homage to martyrs Bhagat
Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru at the Hussainiwala memorial in Ferozepur
district.
With his head covered in a white cloth with two red
stripes, Modi entered the shrine complex through the Darshani Deori with
folded hands and walked along the 'parikarma' before entering the
sanctum santorum.
He was accompanied by Punjab Governor Kaptan
Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and union ministers
Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Vijay Sampla.
Inside the main shrine,
Modi bowed before the Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. He
remained inside the sanctum sanctorum for a couple of minutes.
He was presented a 'siropa' (robe of honour) by the 'granthi' (priest) of the shrine.
Surrounded
by his special protection group (SPG) security along with Punjab Police
personnel in plainclothes and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
(SGPC) volunteers, the prime minister came out of the shrine after
spending nearly 40 minutes there.
Before leaving the shrine
complex, Modi met SGPC top functionaries who submitted a memorandum
regarding various demands related to Sikh religion.