President prays at Golden Temple

President Ram Nath Kovind arrived here on Thursday and offered prayers at Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines.

The President was accompanied by senior functionaries of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), including its President, Kirpal Singh Badungar, and other officials, during the visit.

The President's family members also accompanied him.

With his head covered with a white handkerchief, the President walked around the "parikarma" of the shrine complex and went to the Guru Ram Das Langar Hall (which has the largest community kitchen in the world) before entering the sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers.

Kovind was given a 'Siropa' (robe of honour) inside the shrine.

Tight security arrangements were made in and around the shrine complex for Kovind's maiden visit.

Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore, Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal also accompanied the President and his entourage.

The large number of devotees present inside the shrine complex were excited to see the President in their midst.

The SGPC task force sewadars (volunteers) formed a security ring around the President, along with security personnel in plain-clothes, during the visit.

--IANS

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