Abu Dhabi's first Hindu stone temple opens to public

NEW DELHI: The UAE's first Hindu stone temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, has opened to the public. The temple located on a 27-acre site in Abu Mureikah, near AI Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed highway was built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). The temple was constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 700 crore, and the land for the temple was donated by the UAE government.
The temple's inauguration was celebrated with a grand ceremony attended by nearly 5,000 people, including overseas devotees.
Taking to X, the BAPS Hindu Mandir members shared the news of the temple's opening. "The wait is over! #AbuDhabiMandir is now open for all visitors and worshipers," the post read. The temple would be open from 9 am to 8 pm on all days except Monday when it would be closed for visitors, as per the post.
To maintain a peaceful atmosphere and ensure the orderly management of the premises, the temple authorities have provided detailed guidelines for visitors, including clothing preferences, photography rules, and prohibited items.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sanjay Sudhir highlights strong bond between India-UAE
Emphasising the India-UAE relationship, Sudhir recalled PM Modi's visits to the UAE. "I deal with the India-UAE relationship, which is going very well. In the last seven, or about 9-10 years, the Prime Minister has visited this country seven times. In fact, in the last two years, he has visited four times," he said.
Adding to this, Sudhir noted PM Modi's last visit to the UAE and said, "His last visit was just a couple of weeks back, which was a very significant visit in terms of bilateral outcomes and in terms of engagement with the leadership of the UAE."
The construction of temple follows Nagara style of architecture
The temple, constructed using sandstone and marble, follows the Nagara style of architecture as described in the Hindu scriptures, Shilpa and Sthapatya Shastras. It is a magnificent architectural marvel in the Gulf region and has become a significant religious landmark for the 3.5 million Indians who form part of the Indian workforce in the UAE.
The temple stands at 108 feet and is situated on 27 acres of land. Earlier in 2017, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the temple which is a symbol of spiritual devotion, architectural brilliance, and cultural unity. Interestingly, no concrete and no steel has been used in the making of this temple. The premises of the temple comprise a visitor's centre, prayer halls, library, classroom, playground, garden and shops for the people.