Hundreds of people from all walks of life on Saturday, thronged gurudwaras across the nation to offer special prayers for prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life on Saturday, thronged gurudwaras across the nation to offer special prayers for prime minister Manmohan Singh, who is undergoing coronary bypass surgery for the removal of blockages in his heart vessels.
Prayers were being offered in gurudwaras in Delhi, Kolkata, Amritsar and Guwahati for the successful operation of the prime minister.
In Amritsar, the prime minister's brother and other family members offered prayers at the Golden Temple for the success of his surgery.
Surjit Singh Kohli, the prime minister's brother, said they were leaving for Delhi to be with Singh after the surgery. "We hope to be with the prime minister when his surgery is over," Kohli said over phone from Amritsar.
He said they had offered Ardaas (prayers) at the Golden Temple for success of the surgery and Dr Singh's health.
"We are also aware that millions of our countrymen and Punjabis the world over are praying for his good health," he said.
Local Congress leaders also held prayers early on Saturday morning at the Golden Temple for Singh's good health.
Both the prime minister's sisters - Naveen Kaur and Preetam Kaur - also joined a mass prayer at a gurudwara in Kolkata for the successful heart surgery of their brother.
The two sisters accompanied by senior priests at Taratala Gurudwara in South Kolkata offered prayers at 9 am for the successful operation.
People also offered special prayers for Singh at a Gurudwara in Guwahati in Assam, which the prime minister represents in Rajya Sabha.
"All citizens of Guwahati irrespective of their faiths are praying for prime minister's health. We pray to God that he recovers soon and resumes office," a priest, leading special prayers in the Gurudwara, said.
Prayers were also held in the national capital for the speedy recovery of the 76-year-old leader.
"Many people offered prayers at the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara (near Connaught Place), the Sisganj Sahib Gurudwara (in Chandni Chowk) and Gurudwara Gurunanak Pio (at GT Karnal Road), for the prime minister's successful operation and his speedy recovery," Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjeet Singh Sarna, said.
Devotees of all age groups in Delhi gathered to offer Sangat (mass prayer) and Ardaas (prayer) early on Saturday morning at near by gurudwaras.
The prime minister was wheeled into the operation theatre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at 5:30 am on Saturday, while the bypass surgery started at 7:15 am.
An all faith prayer meeting was also held attended by a Garcha Gurudwara in South Kolkata at the instance of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC).
WBPCC acting president Pradip Bhattacharya, who took part in the prayer along with WBPCC secretary Tulsi Mukherjee said that members from different religion prayed for the successful operation of the prime minister.
"We also prayed to the almighty that the prime minister's operation ends successfully and he recovers quickly to take charge of the country," Bhattacharya said.
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