Inside UAE's First BAPS Hindu Temple; To Be Inaugurated By PM Modi

BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi in UAE, is a traditional Hindu place of worship that is being built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The site is located at Abu Mureikhah, which is near Al Rahba off the Dubai–Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway. It will be the first traditional Hindu stone mandir in the whole of West Asia or the Middle East. This temple shall be an addition to the landmark in the UAE's architectural environment, which would create an enthralling tapestry whereby traditional, old stone buildings would sit peacefully beside modern contemporary structures, each telling a distinct tale of design, purpose, and cultural evolution. This is an example of harmony. Land by a Muslim ruler, a project designed by a Catholic Christian. The mandir, inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj and blessed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, has incorporated all aspects and features of a traditional Hindu mandir as part of a fully functional, social, cultural, and spiritual complex. It has idols coming from North, South, West, and East of India. The Mandir stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between India and the UAE, with the seven spires honoring the seven emirates of the UAE, namely, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The selection process involves meticulously choosing pink sandstone from top-tier quarries in Rajasthan, along with white marble sourced from Italy, as the main stones. These stones then undergo intricate carving procedures at designated sites in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Orissa, meticulously crafted by skilled heritage artisans. In August 2015, the UAE government announced the decision to provide land for building a Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first official visit to the country. On 10 February 2018, BAPS representatives met Sheikh Mohamed and the Indian Prime Minister in the Presidential Palace and an MoU was signed in the presence of the entire royal family and over 250 local leaders. The foundation stone laying ceremony or shila puja took place the next day… Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the ceremony via live stream from the Dubai Opera House.