PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Abu Dhabi's 1st Hindu BAPS Temple | UAE Temple

Affiliation                              Hinduism

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai, virtually laid the foundation stone of Bharat Mart at Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone in Dubai, to be constructed by DP World, on 14 February 2024. The expansive BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the city's inaugural Hindu temple, is set to open its doors to the public on March 1. Spanning 27 acres, this architectural marvel includes a prayer hall accommodating 3,000 people, a community center, an exhibition hall, and various other facilities. Covering 27 acres and financed at a cost exceeding ₹700 crore, the BAPS Hindu temple is symbolic of the deepening ties between India and the United Arab Emirates.

Inaugurating the temple, PM Modi expressed in Hindi, "A golden chapter in human history has been written in UAE today. A grand and holy temple has been inaugurated in Abu Dhabi today. Years of hard work have gone into this temple, and a long-cherished dream has come true. Bhagwan Swaminarayan's blessings are also with this temple.”

Referring to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the PM stated, "A centuries-old dream was fulfilled. All of India and every Indian is still cherishing that feeling. My friend Brahmavihari Swamy was saying, 'Modi ji is the biggest priest'. I don't know if I have the qualifications of a temple priest, but I am proud to be a priest of Maa Bharti (Mother India)." PM Modi emphasized that every moment of his life and every molecule in his body is dedicated to Ma Bharti, stating, "The joy we felt in Ayodhya has been amplified in Abu Dhabi today. It is my honor that I witnessed the consecration of the temple in Ayodhya last month and this temple in Abu Dhabi today."

'Even Thank You Not Enough'

Continuing his praise for his "brother," UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom he had hailed as a "friend of the Indian community" at the 'Ahlan Modi' event on Tuesday, the PM said he had played the most significant role in realizing the dream of constructing a grand temple in Abu Dhabi. "He has won the hearts of 140 crore Indians. It is my privilege that I have been a part of this temple from the time it was conceptualized to its inauguration. This is why I know that even 'thank you' is too small a phrase for his generosity and contribution. I want the world to see the depth of the India-UAE relationship," PM Modi said. Recalling his discussion with Sheikh Al Nahyan about the temple in 2015, the PM highlighted the prompt approval and land allocation by the UAE president. "When I came to the UAE again in 2018, I met Sheikh Al Nahyan and showed him the two models of the temple that had been prepared - one that was based on Vedic architecture and another that was a simple model without Hindu religious symbols - his thought was clear: he told me the temple in Abu Dhabi should be built with splendor and glory. He wanted the temple to not only be built but also look like a temple," the Prime Minister said and then asked the audience to give the UAE President a standing ovation.

Construction of Abu Dhabi's 1st Hindu Temple Began In 2019

Sheikh Al Nahyan donated 13.5 acres of land for the temple's construction in 2015, and PM Modi laid the foundation three years later. Construction commenced in 2019 after an additional 13.5 acres of land was donated earlier that year. Built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the temple is located in Abu Mreikhah, near Al Rahba. The consecration ceremony of the idols began at the temple on Wednesday morning. PM Modi also participated in a 'global aarti (prayer)', simultaneously performed at over 1,200 temples built by BAPS. Before inaugurating the temple, he offered water in the virtual Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the temple and met people from different religions who played a role in its construction.

7 Spires (Shikhars) Represent Emirates

Temple authorities mentioned that seven shikhars (spires) have been constructed at the temple, representing the seven emirates that form the UAE. "The seven spires have idols of deities, including Lord Ram, Lord Shiv, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Lord Swaminarayan (considered a reincarnation of Lord Krishna), Tirupati Balaji, and Lord Ayappa. The seven shikhars represent the seven emirates of UAE," Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of international relations for BAPS, told PTI. "The seven spires also pay homage to seven important deities, underscoring the interconnectedness of cultures and religions. Normally, our temples are either one spire, three, or five, but 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... The spirals aim to promote unity and harmony in the multicultural landscape," he said. PM Modi's visit to the UAE is his seventh since 2015 and his third in eight months. After the temple inauguration, PM Modi will leave for Doha and hold a bilateral meeting with the Qatari leadership. PM Modi's visit to the country comes on the heels of Qatar releasing eight navy veterans from prison, which was seen as a significant diplomatic victory for India.

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