Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday, marking a milestone in the India-UAE bilateral relations.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir, located in Abu Mureikhah near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, is situated on 27 acres of land in Abu Dhabi donated by the UAE government. The work for the structure has been going on since 2019.
The Mandir is among 1,200 such temples built and managed by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an organisation in India with a huge following in countries like the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
The Abu Dhabi temple, the biggest in the Gulf region, is made of sandstone and follows the Nagara style of architecture. Over 18 lakh bricks were procured from Rajasthan and seven lakh man hours were involved in the construction. The temple is 108 feet tall and is fitted with 300 earthquake sensors.
The temple has shikhars (spires), representing the seven Emirates that come together to form the UAE. "Normally, our temples are either one spire, three, or five, but come here, the seven spires express our gratitude to the unity of the seven emirates. But at the same time, the seven spires enshrine seven important deities," Sadhu Brahmaviharidas of BAPS said about the temple.
#WATCH | UAE | Consecration ceremony of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi being done ahead of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later today.
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2024
(Video: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha) pic.twitter.com/qHYUc8ZNhF
On Tuesday, the first day of his UAE visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the BAPS Hindu Temple, saying it reflected his love for India.
"I consider the construction of BAPS temple here as a reflection of your love for India and your vision for the bright future of UAE. This couldn't have been possible without your support. During our first meeting, I had just put up a simple request for you to look into it and you took a prompt decision, asking me to 'Put your finger on any piece of land, you will get it'. Perhaps, this level of love and trust showcases the unique relationship," PM Modi told Indian diaspora during the 'Ahlan Modi' meeting held on Tuesday.
