PM prays for peace,prosperity at Golden Temple

Amritsar, Mar 24 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accompanied by his wife Mrs Gursharan Kaur, paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here and prayed for the ''peace and prosperity of the nation'' this morning.

The Prime Minister, who arrived at the shrine at 0600 hrs, spent around half an hour listening to Gurbani in the Harmandir Sahib, the sanctum sanctorum. He listened to 'Asa ki Vaar' pray with his head bowed and hands folded.

Golden Temple head granthi Giani Gurbachan Singh presented a 'siropa' (robe of honour) to the Prime Minister and his wife.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar, who received Dr Singh at the Golden Temple later, also presented a 'siropa' to him and his wife inside a specially erected 'pandal' at the Clock Tower entrance of the shrine.

Dr Singh was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Lok Sabha member Mrs Parneet Kaur and number of senior state Congress leaders and ministers.

Before leaving the shrine Dr Singh wrote in the visitors book that ''I have come to the Darbar Sahib of Guru Ram Dass to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country''.

Later, the Prime Minister and his wife paid obeisance at the Durgiana Mandir where they were honoured with a 'siropa' by the temple management committee.

UNI Team HS PK KP1026