After inaugurating Ayodhya Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14. On February 13, he will be addressing the Indian community event, Ahlan Modi, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the UAE.
The religious campus has been completed by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and it will be inaugurated by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2024.
The spiritual leader arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday to preside over the inauguration of the UAE’s first Hindu temple. The temple’s construction began in December 2019 and will be inaugurated on February 14.
Days later, the temple will open to the general public on February 18. The Middle East’s first traditional Hindu temple built using pink limestone and white marble is spread across over 27 acres. No steel or concrete has been used in the construction of this temple. Seven pinnacles, symbolizing the seven Emirates of the UAE, have also been built in the BAPS Hindu Mandir.
The temple premises house a visitors centre, library, classroom, prayer room, community centre, amphitheater, playground, garden, books and gift shops as well as food court.
The BAPS Hindu Temple is expected to be the Middle East’s first traditional Hindu stone temple and symbolizes the strong friendship between India and the UAE. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi donated land for the construction of the mandir in 2015.
In December, PM Modi and BAPS Swami Ishwarcharandas talked about the temple at the Prime Minister’s residence. A registration portal has been established for the event and transportation has been arranged from all Emirates. The temple is a symbol of peace and tolerance that was created by Mahatma Gandhi and Sheikh Zayed.
A cultural program involving 400 local talents is being prepared for the inauguration. The foundation for the temple was laid on April 20, 2019, and diplomats from over 30 countries visited the construction site in May 2023.
Within 24 hours of its announcement, the event received an enthusiastic response with almost 12,000 registrations. Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed by India and the UAE to further strengthen their relationship.
