Hindu Temple in UAE, Abu Dhabi:
Hindu Temple in UAE – Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple to be inaugurated by PM Modi on Feb 14
PM Modi to inaugurate first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14: All you need to know about BAPS Mandir
PM Modi in Hindu Temple in UAE
Starting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to go to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for two days, during which he will have important meetings. The opening of Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple, which is one of the tour’s highlights, is his sixth official visit to the UAE since 2015.
The prime minister will officially open the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14. The temple, which is evidence of intercultural cooperation, will subsequently welcome visitors on March 1. The temple is a sprawling complex that includes, among other things, a visitors’ center, prayer rooms, exhibition spaces, instructional zones, kid-friendly entertainment areas, a food court, themed gardens, and a bookstore and gift shop.
BAPS confirmed in a statement that the temple will be a symbol of inclusivity, encouraging people of other faiths to learn about and value Hindu spirituality and culture.
During Prime Minister Modi’s last visit to the UAE in 2018, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi was officially announced. The ceremony to lay the foundation stone was held in April 2019. The temple features seven shikhars, which stand for the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. It also has an amphitheater that is similar to the ghats along the Ganga River in India, a sand dune that is duplicated, and streams that symbolize the Yamuna and Ganga rivers. The mandir also encompasses teachings from other cultures, highlighting the idea that love is a global concept that transcends religious bounds.
The origins of the mandir can be found on April 5, 1997, when followers went to a desert region in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the BAPS president at the time. In the course of this visit, Swamishri prayed for world peace, national progress, interfaith harmony, and the construction of a mandir in Abu Dhabi.
Then, over the next twenty years, BAPS representatives met with community and government leaders to obtain approval for the construction of the mandir. The Hindu mandir was given land by the UAE government in 2015, a move that Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially praised and thanked the UAE government for. Both governments assigned BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and Mandir Limited the task of developing and managing the mandir project.
According to reports, the temple’s inside is made of finely sculpted white marble that was created by Indian artisans, while the outside is made of pink sandstone that was sourced from Rajasthan. More than 2,000 artists from Gujarat and Rajasthan spent three years meticulously carving white marble pillars with images of musicians, animals, and heavenly objects.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir complex hopes to act as a center for art, culture, and morals with its unique architectural style. Through its mandirs, centers, and committed volunteers, BAPS, a global community-based and volunteer-driven social and spiritual organization, hopes to serve millions of people worldwide.
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Rajasthan Artisans’ Craft Finds Place At UAE’s First Hindu Temple in UAE-
Hindu Temple in UAE: Rajasthan Artisans
Beautiful marble carvings on a background of sandstone adorn the temple’s facade. These carvings were created by talented artists from Rajasthan and Gujarat using more than 25,000 stone pieces.
Skilled Rajasthani artisans have been painstakingly carving marble blocks into elaborate pillars, columns, and holy idols of Hindu deities like Lord Ram and Lord Ganesh for more than four years. Their pride has no limits because their artistry is currently on display at the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled to open on February 14.
These craftsmen, who come from villages in Rajasthan’s Makrana area, started their artistic adventure back in 2019 and haven’t stopped sculpting since, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Third-generation Makrana-born sculptor Ram Kishan Singh expresses his enthusiasm, saying, “The idea of a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi represents deep teachings of fraternity and social peace. I have personally contributed to eighty-three components for the temple and have watched the majesty of its design come to life.”
Located on a 27-acre plot in Abu Mureikhah, close to Al Rahba, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is building the temple. Skilled artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat painstakingly sculpted over 25,000 stone pieces to create the facade’s stunning marble carvings against a backdrop of sandstone. The selection of stones shows great attention for the UAE’s climate, including pink sandstone, which is well-known for its resistance to extremely high temperatures.
Italian marble is used for extra elegance, according to Som Singh, a Rajasthani artisan who now works at the temple site in the United Arab Emirates. Two domes (ghumats), seven spires (shikhars) that symbolize the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, twelve dome-like structures (samrans), and 402 pillars are among the architectural wonders of the temple.
In addition to representations of esteemed deities like Lord Jagannath, Lord Swaminarayan, Lord Venkateshwara, and Lord Ayyappa, each architectural element tells tales from Hindu texts including the Ramayana, Shiv Purana, Bhagavatam, and Mahabharata. Notably, the convergence of the five natural elements is symbolized by the ‘Dome of Harmony’.
Fifth-generation craftsman Balram Tonk is immensely proud of his role in these hallowed works, which are also included in the recently constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya. The temple’s dedication ceremony is set to take place after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the Indian community summit on February 13 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The temple’s interior design uses 40,000 cubic feet of marble, and cutting-edge elements like heat-resistant nanotiles and thick glass panels combine classic design elements with cutting-edge practicality. In the face of world issues such as the pandemic and conflicts, Vishal Brahmabhatt, who is in charge of procurement and logistics, realizes the enormous burden of moving more than two lakh cubic feet of sacred stone. This effort is made possible through faith and collaboration. Transworld Group, DP World, Mundra port, and Dubai Customs were instrumental in making this enormous project a reality.
FAQ’s –Questions Ans. GK
Here are some GK quiz questions based on the article:
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Question: When is Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?
- Answer: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the UAE for a two-day trip starting on Tuesday.
- Question: What significant event will Prime Minister Modi be inaugurating during his visit to Abu Dhabi?
- Answer: Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple.
- Question: What amenities does the BAPS temple complex in Abu Dhabi feature?
- Answer: The temple complex includes a visitors’ center, exhibitions, prayer halls, learning areas, sports facilities for children and youth, a food court, thematic gardens, book and gift shop, among other amenities.
- Question: How many visits has Prime Minister Modi made to the UAE since 2015?
- Answer: Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit marks his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015.
- Question: What symbolic representation does the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi incorporate in its architecture?
- Answer: The temple features seven shikhars, each representing an Emirate of the UAE.
- Question: Who expressed a wish for a Hindu mandir to be built in Abu Dhabi during a visit to the UAE in 1997?
- Answer: His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the then-president of BAPS, expressed the desire during his visit to the UAE in 1997.
- Question: How many towers does the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi have, and what do they represent?
- Answer: The temple boasts seven towers, each representing one of the seven emirates of the UAE.
- Question: What materials were primarily used in the construction of the BAPS Hindu Mandir’s exterior and interior?
- Answer: The temple’s exterior is crafted from pink sandstone from Rajasthan, while its interior is made of white marble handcrafted by artisans in India.
- Question: How has BAPS incorporated eco-friendly practices into the construction of the temple?
- Answer: BAPS has used fly ash to replace a significant portion of cement in the concrete mix, reducing the temple’s carbon footprint.
- Question: What is the overarching goal of the BAPS Hindu Mandir complex in Abu Dhabi?
- Answer: The complex aims to serve as a center for art, culture, and values, fostering inclusivity and spiritual growth.
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