UAE's First Hindu Temple to be inaugurated by PM Modi

 

UAE's First Hindu Temple to be inaugurated by PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate UAE's First Hindu Temple at BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on 14th February.

The Indian Prime Minister accepted the invitation in 2023. An official invitation was given to the Prime Minister by Swami Ishwarcharandas, a swami of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

The Prime Minister will address to a crowd of more than 50,000 Indian expats at the Sheikh Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi on February 13. The event is being referred to as "Ahlan Modi (Hello Modi)". Prime Minister Modi's overseas address to the largest community reception makes it particularly noteworthy.

The BAPS Hindu Mandir is a large Hindu temple located just outside Abu Dhabi, standing at a height of around 108 feet. It is the first stone Hindu temple in the UAE and is expected to be the largest in West Asia. The temple is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore.

Much of the pink sandstone and marble used in the construction of the temple came from northern Rajasthan. Rajasthani artisans are responsible for creating not only the stones but also the sculptures that adorn the temple walls.

Against a background of sandstone, over 25,000 pieces of stone have been carved into beautiful sculptures. Two domes, twelve Samrans (dome-like structures), forty2 pillars, and seven Shikhars (spires) represent the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.

Stories from the Ramayana, Shiv Purana, Bhagavatam, and Mahabharata are carved onto each Shikhar. The representations also tell the tales of Lord Ayyappa, Lord Venkateshwara, Lord Jagannath, and Lord Swaminarayan.

Modern and traditional stone constructions have been blended together with the use of heat-resistant nano tiles and thick glass panels. A localized touch has been added by etching camels into the carvings.

The harmony of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—is shown in a "Dome of Harmony."  Inside the temple, 40,000 cubic feet of marble have been used. There has also been use of Italian marble.

The temple is situated off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway in Abu Mureikhah, next to Al Rahba, on a 27-acre plot of land. In order to move stones, Transworld Group, DP World, Dubai Customs, and Mundra Port have been crucial.