US Vice-President J D Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children began their India trip on Monday with a visit to the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple near the banks of the Yamuna.
The children — all three dressed in Indian attire — were the cynosure of many an eye. While eight-year-old Ewan and five-year-old Vivek wore yellow and grey kurtas with white pyjamas, Vance’s three-year-old daughter Mirabel was dressed in a teal green anarkali suit and a jacket.
“Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless,” Vance wrote in the temple guest book.
After they visited the temple, the family posed for camera crews outside. “They were given a traditional welcome after which they had darshan. A carved wooden elephant, a model of the Akshardham Temple and children’s books were gifted to the family,” a priest at the temple told PTI.
Temple volunteer Meera Sondagar also told PTI that Vance was captivated by the intricately sculpted Gajendra Peeth, a plinth adorned with carvings of elephants that symbolises strength and wisdom.
They later met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence (ANI)
“The Vance family explored the mandir’s majestic art and architecture, experiencing India’s heritage and cultural depth and they appreciated the messages of harmony, family values, and timeless wisdom embodied in the Akshardham campus,” the temple posted on social media.
Inaugurated in 2005, the temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, who established the Swaminarayan faith.
Next in the family’s tour of the Capital was the Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath.
Story continues below this ad
“The family, along with members of their security team, bought a lot of items. The Vances picked up tea, honey, paper mache toys and coaster sets, wooden peacock, model of Ashoka Pillar and a brass bowl, among others,” said Vinay Aggarwal (55), the manager at the emporium.
“They were here for around 45 minutes and bought items worth around Rs 50,000. The Vance family alone made purchases worth Rs 20,000,” he added.
Established in 1952, the Central Cottage Industries Emporium was envisioned as a platform to revive India’s craft heritage, impacted by industrialisation in the post-colonial era.
Meanwhile, due to VIP movement in the Capital, the city saw traffic jam in areas like Mathura Road, Kalindi Kunj-Sarita Vihar road, Dilshad Garden roundabout and Ghazipur road.
Story continues below this ad
In the afternoon, people also faced difficulty commuting in Mahipalpur, Delhi Cantonment, area around Supreme Court, and Dhaula Kuan, said traffic police.
