Amritsar, April 22:
A delegation of four Senators of the United States of America (USA) and one Representative Congressman expressed their devotion by paying obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib today.
The US Senators included New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and New York-17 Representative Congressman Mondaire Jones. Moreover, the delegation also included the family members of Senators and Chargé d’Affaires, US Embassy, New Delhi, Ms Patricia Lacina, Political Officer US Embassy Dane Robbins and Political Officer US Embassy, Coberly Travis, who also paid obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib.
Before paying obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, the US delegation and senators visited Langar (community kitchen) Sri Guru Ramdas Ji, where the Information Officer S. Jaswinder Singh apprised them about the Maryada (code of conduct) of the Langar. Later, the US delegation then paid obeisance at the central Sikh shrine Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Additional Secretary S. Partap Singh, Manager of Sri Darbar Sahib S. Sulakhan Singh, Additional Manager S. Satnam Singh, Information Officer S. Jaswinder Singh, honoured the USA leaders with Siropao (robe of honour), golden model of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and books related to Sikh faith.
Speaking after the visit, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “We have come to worship, and we have not only been inspired by what we have seen here but are also amazed after visiting this holy place. The generosity of the (Sikh) community to provide food (Langar) for anyone who wants food, to work together to make sure millions of people can be fed right here from the community kitchen and to allow millions of people from across the world to worship in this most sacred and special place. We are honoured to be here and we are grateful.”
About the Sikhs in the USA, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “With regard to America and Sikh people there, we support our Sikhs. I serve on the Armed Forces Committee there and we made a provision that all Sikhs can wear their religious head coverings (turban) while they serve.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand praised the Sikh community’s tradition of providing Langar without discrimination and spoke of supporting the Sikhs living in the USA. She said that they are very happy to know that people of all backgrounds from across the world can come here and express their devotion.
On the occasion, Punjab Cabinet Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, MLA Bibi Baljinder Kaur, Information Officer Amritpal Singh and others were also present.