New Delhi, April 21: US Vice President JD Vance, currently on his first official visit to India, began his tour with a spiritual and cultural stop at the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi on Monday.
Accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their three children, Vance expressed heartfelt appreciation for the temple's grandeur and the warmth extended to his family.
In a message shared on the temple’s official X handle, Vance remarked, “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.”
The Vance family embraced Indian tradition during their visit, with the Vice President’s sons dressed in kurta-pyjamas, and their toddler donning an Anarkali-style outfit paired with a delicately embroidered jacket.
Earlier in the day, the family landed at Palam Airport and were warmly received by Union Minister for Railways and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vice President Vance was also accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour, officially marking the beginning of his four-day trip.
Later this evening, Vance is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. The high-level meeting is expected to focus on deepening cooperation in trade, defence, and other key sectors under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the visit aims to touch upon all major areas of bilateral collaboration. The itinerary includes stops in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, with Vance visiting Jaipur on Tuesday and Agra on Wednesday.
