An Art Gallery, Library And A Gym, Abu Dhabi's First Hindu Temple Will Have It All
The foundation stone of the first Hindu temple was laid in United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The event was witnessed by thousands of rejoicing Indians living in the gulf nation. Mahant Swami Maharaj spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha presided over the four-hour ceremony.
The foundation stone of the first Hindu temple was laid in United Arab Emirates' Abu Dhabi on Saturday and the event was witnessed by thousands of rejoicing Indians living in the gulf nation.
Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which is constructing the temple, presided over the four-hour ceremony following which sanctified bricks were placed at the main pooja sthal (place of worship), reported PTI.
¡°On behalf of 130 crore Indians, it is my privilege to convey our greetings to my dear friend and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,¡± Indian Ambassador to UAE Navdeep Suri quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying, in a congratulatory statement.
¡°When complete, this temple will symbolise the universal human values and spiritual ethos that form a shared heritage of both India and the UAE,¡± he said.
He said that the temple embodies the timeless Vedic values of Vasudev Kutumbakam, the whole world is one family.
¡°I am sure this temple will be a source of inspiration for the 33 lakh Indians residing in the UAE as well as of people from all other cultures,¡± Suri quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying.
The plan to build the temple in Abu Dhabi was approved by the Abu Dhabi government during Modi's first visit to the country in 2015.
#AbuDhabi's first #Hindu temple will be inspired by temples like the #AkshardhamShrine in #NewDelhi
¡ª ??? ?????? ?? Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) April 19, 2019
Huge respect to Abu Dhabi for facilitating building of a Hindu temple in UAE. Religion should be an unifying factor than a divisive force. Respect everyones right to be themselves without being judged for their choice to either follow any religion or not believe in any of this.
¡ª Ramesh RB (@Rameshchess) April 21, 2019
Proud to share moment of Foundation Stone laying ceremony of First Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Proud to be Indian..!@narendramodi @PMOIndia @BJP4India @AmitShah @ShelarAshish @BJP4Maharashtra @TOIIndiaNews @LoksattaLive @MiLOKMAT @dna @ShivSena @AUThackeray pic.twitter.com/LhTuCsuA1T
¡ª Pradeep Pande (@pradeep1182) April 21, 2019
Vedic rites performed during the Shilanyas of the first Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi. We, the Hindus of India, thank the Emirates for this kind gesture. ?#BAPS pic.twitter.com/1fgxijh8Q6
¡ª Vikesh@vikky (@Vikky24182971) April 21, 2019
The temple will be a cultural complex with art gallery, halls, library and gym.
It will comprise of seven towers representing the seven emirates in the UAE and come up on a 14-acre piece of land at Abu Mureikhah, close to the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway.
The stones for the temple will be carved by temple artisans in India and assembled in the UAE.
