Abu Dhabi Temple To Be Thrown Open To Public On 1 March
By A Draft Correspondent
In the heart of Abu Dhabi, a monumental Hindu temple rises, a testament to spiritual harmony and architectural grandeur. Inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this sanctuary will welcome the public from March 1st, offering a serene retreat from dawn till dusk, except for Mondays when its doors will close for rest.
Crafted by the devoted hands of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the temple sprawls across 27 acres in Abu Mureikhah, a stone’s throw from the bustling Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway. This sacred edifice, constructed at an impressive cost of Rs 700 crore, stands as a beacon of faith and tradition.
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| BAPS Hindu Temple at Abu Dhabi |
The temple’s inauguration, a grand affair graced by Prime Minister Modi on February 14th, saw over 5,000 guests bear witness to its dedication. Following this, a select group of overseas devotees and VIPs were granted an exclusive glimpse into this spiritual haven.
An astounding 18 lakh bricks and 1.8 lakh cubic meters of Rajasthan’s finest sandstone give form to the temple, mirroring the Nagara architectural style that also adorns the revered Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Rooted in the ancient wisdom of the Shilpa and Sthapathya Shastras, the temple’s design is a homage to the timeless art of mandir construction, a craft detailed in Hindu scriptures.
The UAE, home to a vibrant Indian community of 3.5 million, has generously donated the land for this temple, which now stands as the largest Hindu sanctuary in the Gulf, complementing the three existing temples in Dubai.
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| Performers from Mumbai living in the UAE greeted PM Modi with a traditional welcome |
Seven majestic spires reach towards the heavens, each representing the Emirates of the UAE, while the intricate carvings of camels and the national bird, the falcon, pay tribute to the host nation.
These spires are sanctified by the presence of deities such as Lord Ram, Lord Shiv, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Lord Swaminarayan, Tirupati Balaji, and Lord Ayappa, embodying the spiritual essence of the seven Emirates.
The temple’s design is a cultural mosaic, intertwining tales from Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata with narratives from Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese, and African civilizations.
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| Prime Minister Modi offered the flower petals at the holy feet of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Bhagwan |
Encased within the temple’s walls, white Italian marble gleams, its surface etched with intricate designs and carvings, while the exterior boasts Indian sandstone. The architectural splendor is further accentuated by two ghumats, 12 samrans, and 402 pillars, with the ghumats named the “Dome of Peace” and “Dome of Harmony.”
Flanking the temple, sacred waters from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers flow, transported from India’s heartland in vast containers.
The temple’s facade is a masterpiece, where skilled artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat have sculpted over 25,000 pieces of stone into exquisite marble carvings, set against a backdrop of pink sandstone, a gift from northern Rajasthan to Abu Dhabi. This temple is not just a structure; it is a symphony of faith, culture, and artistry.
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