Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

The Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand, and his delegation visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat.

The Deputy PM was greeted at the ornately carved stone Mayur Dwar with a garland of flowers by Vishwavihari Swami.

The High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, David Pines and other delegates were also welcomed by senior BAPS volunteers.

The Deputy PM and delegation were given an overview of Swaminarayan Akshardham. First, the Deputy Prime Minister went to the Abhishek Mandapam where he performed the abhishek of Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj while offering prayers for world peace, progress and harmony.

Deputy PM Winston said, “I am thankful to you for arranging this special visit on Monday as Akshardham temple remains closed every Monday. I am overwhelmed by this visit and deeply moved by the messages given here. Thank you for your hospitality and I appreciate the birthday wishes given to me well in advance by swami a month ago. Looking forward to a traditional stone mandir by BAPS in New Zealand.”

Inside the Akshardham Maha Mandir, he paid respects to the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan by offering flowers, and admired the art and architecture created by thousands of volunteers and artisans under the inspiration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj to share the messages of love, peace, tolerance, non-violence, co-existence and global harmony.

Deputy PM Winston said, “I am thankful to you for arranging this special visit on Monday as Akshardham temple remains closed every Monday. I am overwhelmed by this visit and deeply moved by the messages given here. Thank you for your hospitality and I appreciate the birthday wishes given to me well in advance by swami a month ago. Looking forward to a traditional stone mandir by BAPS in New Zealand.”