Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, a massive new Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday.
Starting March 1, the general public will have access to the temple.
PM Modi expressed his excitement about attending the Ahlan Modi programme, where he will be in the company of the Indian diaspora residing in the UAE.
Modi is also set to speak at the ongoing World Government Summit later today.
“I shall be elaborating on a wide range of subjects, which will strengthen the conversations around building a better planet,” he said via an X post.
Welcoming Modi, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai said: “The strong ties between our nations serve as a model for international cooperation. The World Government Summit has evolved into one of the world’s leading platforms for sharing governance best practices, success stories and initiatives, and envisioning the future of government. It is a pleasure to have India as a distinguished guest at this international event, where it will showcase its innovations, initiatives and projects across diverse sectors that are a model for accelerating development for government service delivery.”
BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi: All you need to know
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a dedication ceremony to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
The temple was built by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha on a 27-acre site near Abu Dhabi.
The temple features over 25,000 pieces of stone from Rajasthan and Gujarat. Pink sandstone was shipped from northern Rajasthan for the temple facade. Wooden trunks used to transport the stones were reused to make furniture.
Near the temple sits an amphitheater shaped like a ghat from Varanasi. Visitors will see streams representing the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. A light will represent the Saraswati river to form a ‘Triveni’ Sangam.
The temple has seven shrines for deities from across India including Ayyappa, Balaji, Jagannath, Krishna, Hanuman, Shiva and Ram. Carvings depicting the deities’ lives adorn each shrine.
The temple’s dome highlights the five natural elements – earth, water, fire, air and space. Animal carvings include horses and camels representing the UAE, each carved uniquely.
The complex will have visitor and learning spaces, prayer halls, exhibits, sports areas, gardens, and shops.
Over 350 sensors monitor temperature, pressure and seismic activity. Sustainable practices using fly ash lower the temple’s carbon footprint. Special tiles keep spaces comfortable in the heat.
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