US Vice President JD Vance prays for world peace at Akshardham Temple

JD Vance at Akshardham Temple

US Vice President JD Vance on Monday visited Akshardham temple after arriving in India and prayed for world peace.

Radhika Shukla, Akshardham Temple Spokesperson said that the Vance family had an unforgettable experience at the temple and were overwhelmed by the carvings.

"The whole family was here for around 55 minutes. Their experience of 1 hour inside was unforgettable. After the welcome, they started with the Charanarvind of Lord Swaminarayan. Moving ahead, they visited Bharat Upvan. They liked the garden very much. Going further, they visited Gajendra Peeth. They were very overwhelmed by the carvings. Then they went upstairs and after having a darshan of the idol of Lord Swaminarayan in the sanctum sanctorum, they prayed for world peace," Shukla said.

This is US Vice President's first official visit to India. He was welcomed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and received a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

He is expected to hold a key meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day. Vance’s visit to India carries strategic weight amid evolving global power dynamics and rising US-China trade frictions.

"The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement issued on February 13 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement ahead of Vance's visit.