• British PM Contestant Rishi Sunak and wife perform ‘gau pooja’ in London; video goes viral

    International
    British PM Contestant Rishi Sunak and wife perform ‘gau pooja’ in London; video goes viral

    He receives a diya (earthen lamp) from the priest who is standing next to the couple as they carry out the rite and ask for the cow's blessing. color:#252525">

    color:#252525">Digital Desk: A contestant for the position of British Prime
    Minister to succeed Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, was noticed in London engaging
    in gau pooja, or cow worship. A video of the Conservative Party leader and his
    wife, Akshata Murthy, who is also the daughter of Infosys Founder NR Narayan
    Murthy, seeing a cow being readied for the occasion has been making the rounds
    on social media.



    color:#252525">In the video, Sunak can be seen standing next to his wife and
    performing an aarti in front of the cow. The former UK chancellor is first seen
    giving the cow holy water from a brass tumbler in his hand. He receives a diya
    (earthen lamp) from the priest who is standing next to the couple as they carry
    out the rite and ask for the cow's blessing.




    The social media video went viral, drawing a lot of interest
    from the Hindu community.



    color:#252525">The video was released a few days after Sunak celebrated
    Janmashtami at the Bhaktivedanta Manor outside of London. He posted pictures of
    the festivities on his official Instagram account. In anticipation of the
    well-known Hindu festival honouring Lord Krishna's birthday, Janmashtami, he
    had written in the post, "Today I went to the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple
    with my wife Akshata."



    color:#252525">One of the two contenders to succeed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss
    as Britain's next Prime Minister is the 42-year-old leader who presided over
    No. 11 Downing Street and served as the nation's finance minister from February
    2020 to July 2022.



    color:#252525">Following the resignation of scores of ministers in protest over
    a string of scandals and gaffes, Boris Johnson was forced to step down as
    leader of the ruling Conservative Party, and the party is now choosing a new
    leader. By the end of the month after this one, party members will choose a new
    premier.



    color:#252525">Sunak got off to a strong start in his campaign to succeed
    Johnson as prime minister after his departure sent shockwaves through scores of
    colleagues. Polls now indicate that he is trailing in the campaign, with his
    handling of the pandemic emerging as his main problem. As a trade minister at
    the time, Truss said that she was not involved in making the crucial decisions
    and that she would never again allow a shutdown.



    color:#252525">The result of the crucial vote to decide the next British Prime
    Minister is due on September 5.