- Monday, February 24, 2025
The foreign leader appreciated the hospitality he received at the temple where he was given a warm welcome and explored the location in depth.
By: Shubham Ghosh
NEW ZEALAND deputy prime minister Winston Peters on Monday (11) visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar in the western Indian state of Gujarat along with a delegation. He was warmly welcomed at the intricately carved Mayur Dwar by Pujya Vishwaviharidas Swami; Kothari Swami, head of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, representing His Holiness (HH) Mahant Swami Maharaj, the guiding force behind Swaminarayan Akshardham and the spiritual leader of BAPS.
The high commissioner of New Zealand to India, David Pines, accompanied Peters, who is also the foreign affairs minister of his country. Additionally, senior volunteers of Swaminarayan Akshardham were present to extend their greetings to the visiting delegation.
Manish Mistry, a senior volunteer at the temple, briefed the deputy PM on Swaminarayan Akshardham—a 23-acre spiritual complex honoring Bhagwan Swaminarayan and India’s spiritual heritage. Peters then proceeded to the ‘abhishek mandapam’, where he conducted the ritual of pouring of water on the statue of Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj, a teenage-yogi form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, praying for global peace and progress.
The Foreign Minister was honoured to visit Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/atUOl3RG6K
— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) March 11, 2024
After the ritual, the New Zealand leader went to the Akshardham Maha Mandir. Inside, he honoured the statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan with floral tributes and appreciated the intricate art and architecture.
Read: Ahead of BRICS business meet, Modi views Swaminarayan Temple model in South Africa
“I am thankful to you for arranging a special visit of mine 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 for a traditional stone mandir by BAPS in New Zealand,” Peters said.
He wrote in the visitor’s book, “Sincere appreciation for a special visit and guidance.”
On Monday, the deputy prime minister met the chief minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, and discussed with him the idea of setting up of a joint committee to improve cooperation between the two nations.
ન્યુઝીલેન્ડના ડેપ્યુટી પ્રાઇમ મિનિસ્ટર શ્રી વિન્સ્ટન પીટર્સ અને પ્રતિનિધિમંડળ સાથે ગાંધીનગર ખાતે મુલાકાત કરી.
તેમની સાથે ન્યુઝીલેન્ડ અને ગુજરાત વચ્ચે ફૂડ સિક્યુરિટી, ડેરી ફાર્મિંગ, રિન્યુએબલ એનર્જી તેમજ ગ્રીન હાઈડ્રોજન, એગ્રી બિઝનેસ એન્ડ સેન્ટર ઓફ એક્સલન્સ, મેરિટાઈમ કોઓર્ડીનેશન,… pic.twitter.com/sITnOUZcbb
— Bhupendra Patel (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Bhupendrapbjp) March 11, 2024
The two leaders also spoke over potential collaboration between Gujarat and New Zealand in education and other sectors. Peters also presented Patel with a cricket bat during their meeting.
Peters showed interest in collaboration with the Indian state in fields such as agri-business, maritime coordination, food security, dairy farming, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and tourism, said a release from the state.
He also tweeted about the meeting in Gujarati.
“Chief minister Patel told the visiting deputy PM of New Zealand that India’s new National Education Policy, unveiled in 2020, prioritises skill development, employability, and higher education,” the release said.
“The CM suggested that companies from New Zealand can consider leveraging the expanding digital ecosystem, particularly in fintech, at GIFT City in Gandhinagar,” it added.
“In the meeting, the chief minister said the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit’s success under prime minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has solidified Gujarat’s status as the best destination for investment,” the release stated.
Patel said Modi is committed to nurturing India’s relations with nations across the globe as a ‘Vishva Mitra’ (global friend).
“The Vibrant Gujarat Summit, whose 10th edition was held in January, signifies a milestone as India is determined to become the third-largest economy in the world in the next few years,” Patel said.
(With PTI inputs)
