Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple is scheduled to be inaugurated on Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir is nestled on approximately 27 acres of land and is located in Abu Mureikhah, close to Al Rahba. The UAE government donated the land for the structure, for which construction has been ongoing since 2019. In the interim, prior to PM Modi’s speech at today’s World Government Summit, the Burj Khalifa lit up with the words “Guest of Honor – the Republic of India.”
PM Modi praised India and the UAE as “partners in progress” and stated that their relationships serve as an example for the rest of the world and are writing a new chapter in the third decade of the twenty-first century. He made these remarks while addressing the Indian diaspora at the “Ahlan Modi” (Hello Modi in Arabic) event held yesterday at Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi. He declared, “The accomplishments of Bharat and the UAE serve as a model for the world to emulate in terms of community and culture.”
Additionally, both nations agreed to link their domestic debit and credit cards through the RuPay (India) and JAYWAN (UAE) agreements. According to the MEA, this is “a significant step toward fostering financial sector collaboration… and will strengthen RuPay’s widespread acceptance throughout the UAE.”
20:45 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi adresses Grand Dedication Ceremony
#WATCH | At the inauguration of BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, PM Modi says, “UAE has written a golden chapter. The inauguration of the temple has years of hard work and dreams of many are connected with the temple. Swaminarayan’s blessings are also connected…” pic.twitter.com/wPGRYcVOBP
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2024
19:38 (IST)14 FEB 2024
Mahant Swami Maharaj garlanded PM Modi at BAPS Swaminarayan temple.
VIDEO | Mahant Swami Maharaj garlands PM Modi after he inaugurates the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/14eKOlc7I9
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2024
19:02 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Narendra Modi performed atri at the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple
19:02 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM touched the feet of BAPS spiritual leader Mahant Swamimaharaj at the inauguration ceremony.
VIDEO | PM Modi greeted by saints as he arrives at the main entrance of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. #BAPSHinduMandir #PMModiInUAE pic.twitter.com/3dp6PI6Qpg
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2024
18:59 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi inaugurated BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Abu Dhabi, followed by performing puja rituals
18:44 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi visits the complex at BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi.
VIDEO | PM Modi visits the complex of BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. He will inaugurate the temple shortly. pic.twitter.com/pQA8oPq5UX
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2024
18:37 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi shows up at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
PM Modi will shortly inaugurate the temple. pic.twitter.com/rU9EnWqGNj
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2024
16:44 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi says that India’s greater participation will benefit IEA.
In addition to congratulating the International Energy Agency (IEA) on its 50th anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s contributions to talent, technology, and innovation. He also emphasized how inclusion increases an institution’s capacity and legitimacy. PM Modi stated that India is the major economy with the fastest rate of growth in the world and that energy security and sustainability are necessary for continued growth in the video on X, formerly Twitter. He said that India’s economy went from being the eleventh largest to the fifth largest in just ten years. Its capacity for solar energy increased twenty-six times in the same period, and its capacity for renewable energy doubled. A larger role for India in the IEA will be beneficial, he said, adding that “1.4 billion Indians bring scale and speed, quantity and quality.”
Sharing my remarks at the International Energy Agency’s Ministerial Meeting. https://t.co/tZrgrjdkJC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2024
16:21 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi and his counterpart from the UAE have bilateral meetings.
PM @narendramodi and Vice President and PM of UAE @HHShkMohd held a wonderful meeting in Dubai.
They leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, spanning trade and investment, technology, education and people-to-people ties. pic.twitter.com/9XaMyOdF9e
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 14, 2024
15:02 (IST)14 FEB 2024
Prime Minister Modi opens the “Bharat Mart” warehouse in Dubai.
PM Modi on Wednesday inaugurated ‘Bharat Mart’, a warehousing facility, in Dubai
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai also present at the inauguration event.
#WATCH | PM Modi inaugurates ‘Bharat Mart’, a warehousing facility, in Dubai
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai also present at the inauguration event pic.twitter.com/TjBKDW4ezn
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2024
14:28 (IST)14 FEB 2024
According to PM Modi World Government Summit in Dubai, public trust in the Indian government has grown over the past few years.
“Over the last few years, people’s trust has increased in the Indian government. People have trust in the intent and commitment of the Indian government. This was possible only because we prioritised public sentiments in governance,” says PM Modi while addressing the World Government Summit in Dubai.
VIDEO | “Over the last few years, people’s trust has increased over the Indian government. People have trust over the intent and commitment of the Indian government. This was possible only because we prioritised public sentiments in governance,” says PM @narendramodi, addressing… pic.twitter.com/GA20XgjgeJ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2024
14:47 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi declared on Wednesday that the “world today needs inclusive governments, which take everyone along and are clean and free from corruption” during his speech at the World Government Summit in Dubai. According to Modi, it is the government’s responsibility to make sure that its meddling in people’s lives is kept to a minimum. Minimum government, maximum governance has always been my guiding philosophy. I have always placed a strong emphasis on fostering an atmosphere where people feel more energised and entrepreneurial,” he declared.
13:07 (IST)14 FEB 2024
‘An honour to be speaking at the World Government Summit today’ says PM Modi
“It is an honour to be speaking at the 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” PM Modi posted on X.
Wednesday will see the opening of Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently visiting the UAE for two days.
It is an honour to be speaking at the @WorldGovSummit later today. I shall be elaborating on a wide range of subjects, which will strengthen the conversations around building a better planet. https://t.co/sfsd3bZbPa
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2024
“The Prime Minister arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday afternoon on what is his seventh visit to this country,” states Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, greeted him and gave him a formal welcome at the airport. The leaders had in-depth discussions about the major developments in the region and worldwide, as well as the full range of bilateral engagement between India and the United Arab Emirates, at the delegation level and one-on-one. The Prime Minister congratulated the President on the introduction of the UAE’s domestic Jeevan card, which is another important step in the financial sector cooperation between India and the UAE, and they also witnessed a transaction made using the Jeevan card. There were 10 MoU agreements that were signed.
#WATCH | Abu Dhabi: On ANI’s question, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra says, “…As I mentioned to you in my opening remarks, the developments in this region, have been a very important element of discussions between the two leaders (PM Modi and President of the UAE, Sheikh… pic.twitter.com/O7j4JpoX09
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2024
10:03 (IST)14 FEB 2024
BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi begins consecration ceremony, ahead of PM Modi’s inauguration today.
#WATCH | UAE | Consecration ceremony of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi being done ahead of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later today.
(Video: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha) pic.twitter.com/qHYUc8ZNhF
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2024
09:35 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi to inaugurate BAPS temple in UAE: an overview of its notable attributes, structure, and importance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates, the BAPS Swaminarayan temple, in Abu Dhabi during his two-day visit. An important milestone for the bilateral relations between the two nations as well as the Hindu community in the United Arab Emirates is the opening of the 108-foot-tall temple.
What is BAPS?
The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a branch of the Vaishnavist Swaminarayan Sampradaya, constructed the temple.
The Akshardham temples in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, as well as the Swaminarayan temples in London, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Nairobi, are among the approximately 1,550 temples that make up the BAPS global network. Additionally, it oversees 17,500 weekly assemblies and 3,850 centers worldwide.
How did the demand for such a temple come up? Does Abu Dhabi have a big Swaminarayan community?
According to a BAPS spokesman, on April 5, 1997, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the tenth spiritual guru and leader of the sect, had a vision of a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi’s desert that could unite nations, communities, and cultures. The spokeswoman continued, “The local Indian community also needed a significant place of worship in addition to this.”
The Indian diaspora is almost 3.3-million strong in UAE, a huge percentage of the country’s population. Of these, some 150 to 200 families are BAPS Swaminarayan devotees.
What are the features of the temple?
The Abu Dhabi temple is a conventional Hindu temple made of stone that has seven shikhars. Constructed in the conventional Nagar fashion, the front panel of the temple features images of Hindu spiritual leaders and avatars alongside stories of harmony from various cultures and universal values. The temple complex occupies 13.5 acres out of a total of 27 acres, with 13.5 acres designated for parking, which can hold about 1,400 cars and 50 buses. The UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, gave the 13.5 acres of land as a gift in 2019.
The height of the temple is 108 ft, length 262 ft and width 180 ft. While the external facade uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan, the interior uses Italian marbles. A total of 20,000 tonnes of stones and marble was shipped in 700 containers for the temple. More than Rs 700 crore was spent on the temple’s construction.
What are the key architectural features?
The temple won the MEP Middle East Awards for Best Mechanical Project of the Year 2019 and Best Interior Design Concept of the Year 2020. One of the main architectural elements is the 96 bells and gaumukhs that are positioned along the temple’s approach. The 96 years of life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj are commemorated by these 96 bells. Visitors will find it comfortable to walk on the nano tiles, even in hot weather. There is a stone carving depicting Pramukh Swami Maharaj picturing the Abu Dhabi temple in 1997 on the upper left part of the structure.
What is the significance of the temple?
According to a BAPS spokesman, “a Hindu Mandir was built on land donated by a Muslim king. The project manager is Sikh, the lead architect is Catholic Christian, the foundational designer is Buddhist, the construction company is Parsi, and the director is Jain.” UAE realtors’ interest and presence in Gujarat, particularly in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, has been growing recently.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, was the chief guest for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 held in January in Gandhinagar, where PM Modi personally received him at the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport in Ahmedabad.
When PM Modi reached UAE on Tuesday (February 13), he was received at the airport by President Zayed, and the two leaders hugged each other.
09:08 (IST)14 FEB 2024
The first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi is rich in symbolism, with a tone from Rajasthan and an artificial river made from Ganga waters.
The first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi was built using eighteen lakh bricks, seven lakh man-hours, and 1.8 lakh cubic meters of sandstone straight from Rajasthan. Its Nagara-style architecture is similar to the recently dedicated Ram Temple in Ayodhya. This is the first traditional stone Hindu temple in the Middle East, built at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore in the Abu Mreikhah Cultural District of the Emirate. The UAE temple is one of 1,200 such temples constructed and overseen by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an organization in India and nations with sizable Indian communities, such as the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the temple on Wednesday, February 14.
08:44 (IST)14 FEB 2024
PM Modi to inaugurate Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu Temple today
The first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open on Wednesday, coincidentally with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir is situated in Abu Mureikhah, close to Al Rahba, and takes up about 27 acres of land. The UAE government donated the land, and construction has been underway on the structure since 2019.
Live Webcast of Dedication Assembly of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi, UAE https://t.co/5N0bEZpQss pic.twitter.com/fRhsHeYcJb
— BAPS (@BAPS) February 12, 2024
