Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario, Canada, Visits Swaminarayan Akshardham

Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario traditionally welcomed at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi

Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario, Canada, at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi

At Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, Ontario Premier Wynne, Minister Michael Chan (MPP), Minister Brad Duguid (MPP), Associate Minister Dipika Damerla (MPP), Minister Vic Dhillon (MPP), Minister Harinder Takhar (MPP) and Minister Amrit Mangat (MPP)

At Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, Premier Wynne with the Ontario delegation

Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario offers abhishek prayers at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi

Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario and senior Onatario delegates offers abhishek prayers at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi

Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario gifted a visit memento at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi

Hon. Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario, Canada, visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi to experience India’s ageless beauty, borderless culture and timeless values.

Premier Wynne was welcomed in a traditional Indian manner with a garland of flowers, a chandlo (vermillion powder) and the tying of the sacred kalva (sacred thread) by trustees and senior volunteers on behalf of Swaminarayan Akshardham and BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

Premier Wynne’s Ontario thirty member delegation included Minister Michael Chan (MPP), Minister Brad Duguid (MPP), Associate Minister Dipika Damerla (MPP), Minister Vic Dhillon (MPP), Minister Harinder Takhar (MPP), Minister Amrit Mangat (MPP), Deputy High Commissioner Jess Dutton from the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi and Jane Rounthwaite serving as the President and Managing Partner at the Osborne Group.

After admiring the Mayur Dwar (Peacock Gate), the delegation made their way to the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir where they witnessed the world’s ‘Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple’.

After offering respects and viewing the mandir’s architecture, the delegation visited the Gajendra Pithika (Elephant Plinth) that includes 148 life-sized carved stone elephants depicting message of social harmony, peace and spirituality.

Premier Wynne and the Ontario delegation offered prayers for world peace and harmony by offering ‘abhishek’, the ceremonial pouring of sanctified water from 151 holy rivers, lakes and ponds across India on the sacred image of Shri Neelkanth Varni.

Sharing her experience at Akshardham, Premier Wynne wrote, “Thank you so much for the wonderful visit. The temple is a miracle of human skill, faith and imagination. A true inspiration.”