A total of 85 foreign envoys and high-level functionaries on Tuesday paid an obeisance at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrine, as they attended celebrations to mark the upcoming 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh master.
They were accompanied by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations' (ICCR) President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.
ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਅਧਿਆਤਮਿਕਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ ਦੇ ਅਣਗਿਣਤ ਸਰੋਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਨਗਰੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਸਦਾ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਦਿਲ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਹਿਰਦਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਮਨੁੱਖਤਾ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਨਗਰੀ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਰਾਜਦੂਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਫਦ ਦਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਨਿੱਘਾ ਅਤੇ ਜੋਸ਼ ਨਾਲ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ। pic.twitter.com/JZTiaL7JKY
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 22, 2019
After paying obeisance, the delegation partook 'langar' in the shrine complex.
I have no doubt that my friends from the diplomatic fraternity have enjoyed every moment of the famed Punjabi hospitality & the spiritual experience of paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib. pic.twitter.com/tdQLp7Y7Ak
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 22, 2019
The diplomats include Ambassadors of Australia, Mongolia, Morocco, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The Deputy Chief of the US Mission is also part of the delegation.
The visit is organised by the ICCR in collaboration with the Punjab government and the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee.
On board : Union minister @HardeepSPuri welcoming about 85 Foriegn diplomats on board on @airindiain ,en route to Amritsar on the occassion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev . pic.twitter.com/o19NSfV5bI
— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ راویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) October 22, 2019
"During my visit with the Resident Foreign Heads of Missions to Guru Di Nagri, I was delighted to meet some of my old friends & prominent citizens of the holy city," Puri tweeted.
Shriomani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gobind Singh Longowal received them and presented them 'siropa' (robe of honour).
The SGPC, considered a mini Parliament of Sikh religious affairs, controls Sikh religious affairs and manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, including the Harmandir Sahib, also knonw as the Golden Temple.
I have no doubt that my friends from the diplomatic fraternity have enjoyed every moment of the famed Punjabi hospitality & the spiritual experience of paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib. pic.twitter.com/tdQLp7Y7Ak
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 22, 2019