Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived at the holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandar Sahib’, popularly known as Golden Temple, early Sunday to offer prayers on the first day of the New Year.
Accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur, the prime minister reached the shrine complex around 6.30 am and went around the ‘parikarma’ of the holy pond before entering the sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers.
Wearing a white kurta-payjaya and a dark grey jacket, the prime minister offered prayers with folded hands along with his wife. He later sat down in an enclosure inside the sanctum sanctorum to listen to hymns.
He and his wife were presented a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) by the ‘granthi’ (priest) of the shrine.
Thousands of devotees were present at the shrine complex when the prime minister arrived amid tight security.