JD Vance family visits Akshardham in Delhi; Children don Indian attire for spiritual tour

US Vice President JD Vance, along with his wife Usha Vance and their three children—Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel—began his first official visit to India with a spiritual and cultural tour of the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Delhi on Monday. The visit marked the beginning of Vance’s four-day India tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Embracing Indian tradition, the Vance children wore traditional Indian clothing, with Ewan and Vivek dressed in kurta-pyjamas and Mirabel in an anarkali outfit. The family admired the temple’s intricate carvings, massive architecture, and the peaceful spiritual atmosphere.

According to officials, the Vance family spent around 55 minutes at Akshardham, exploring areas like the Charanarvind of Lord Swaminarayan, Bharat Upvan gardens, and the Gajendra Peeth. They concluded their visit with prayers for world peace at the sanctum sanctorum after darshan of the Lord Swaminarayan idol.

JD Vance penned a heartfelt note in the temple’s guest book, expressing gratitude for the hospitality and praising India’s craftsmanship. "Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," he wrote, underlining the personal impact the visit had on his family.

The Vice President and his family had received a traditional warm reception at Delhi’s Palam Airport earlier in the day, welcomed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Their itinerary spans visits to Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra as part of efforts to deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Ceremonial honors, warm greetings, and cultural immersion have set a vibrant tone for Vance’s diplomatic visit, highlighting the close and growing ties between the two democracies.