Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J Lindner pays obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib

Appreciates services rendered by Sikhs during COVID-19 pandemic

Amritsar, July 25 (Punjab Post Bureau) – The Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J Lindner expressed devotion after paying obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar on Saturday.

              Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) senior vice-president Surjit Singh Bhitewad welcomed the Ambassador of Germany on his arrival at the SGPC office and honoured him with a Siropao (robe of honour) and a golden model of Sri Harmandar Sahib.

                 Surjit Singh Bhitewad said that the holy shrine of Sri Guru Ramdas Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib is a source of peace which gives the message of universality. He said prominent personalities along with the Sangat (devotees) from across the country and world come here to pay obeisance and similarly the Ambassador of Germany Walter J Lindner reached here.

                  Sharing his feelings Walter J Lindner said, “I have felt relieved after paying obeisance at Golden Temple. My whole life I had a lot of respect towards India but especially also towards Sikhism. So, I wanted to see the holiest place of Sikhism. The spirit here is of solidarity, tolerance and of peace. These are the values of which we are in need today in the whole world. There are too many wars, fighting and hatred. So, Sikhism I think is one answer to this.”

                “You can feel the spirit when you walk around the water tank (holy sarovar) and see people bathing there and drinking the holy water. It gives you an idea of the strength of Sikhism and its message. I am very happy to be received by my friends here (SGPC officials) and I already feel like a part of the family”, said Mr Walter J Lindner.

                Walter J Lindner said, “The message of Sikhism is of tolerance, peace, solidarity and love. It is a very strong message. If we listen to this message from very closely the world would be a better place. My message will be that let us all believe in these values and if we do so, we can live in a peaceful world.”

               The Ambassador of Germany lauded the humanitarian services rendered by the SGPC and the Sikh community, especially, the services of langar (cooked food from community kitchen) and arrangements of free oxygen during COVID-19 pandemic.

              It is notable that at the SGPC office, the SGPC officials briefed the Ambassador of Germany on the Sikh history, traditions and Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, to which he expressed special interest and curiosity. Walter asked a number of questions related to the Sikh faith, which were answered by the SGPC representatives.

                Walter said that he visited Sri Harmandar Sahib for the second time in his life and earlier, he had visited the shrine 42 years ago when he was a young person with a backpack and now, he came back as an ambassador.

              OSD to SGPC president Dr. Amrik Singh Latifpur, information officer Jaswinder Singh Jassi, Major Singh Arjan Manga and others were also present.