Pm Inaugurated BAPS Hindu Temple Marks in UAE

• 15 Feb 2024

On 14^th February, 2024, , Prime Minister inaugurated the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, making it the first Hindu temple to grace the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Key Highlights

• Symbol of Bilateral Relations: Spread across 27 acres and constructed at a cost exceeding Rs 700 crore, the BAPS Hindu temple symbolizes the growing bond between India and the UAE. Generous Contributions: In a gesture of goodwill, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, donated 13.5 acres of land in 2015 for the temple's construction. Subsequently, the UAE Government allocated an additional 13.5 acres in January 2019, totaling 27 acres of gifted land.
• Magnificent Architecture: The temple's construction involved the transportation of over 20,000 tonnes of stone and marble in 700 containers to Abu Dhabi.
• The complex features various amenities, including an amphitheater, prayer rooms, thematic gardens, water features, and community halls capable of accommodating 5,000 individuals.
• Diverse Deity Shrines: Reflecting the cultural diversity of India, the temple houses seven shrines dedicated to different deities from various regions.
• These include Lord Ayyappa, Lord Tirupati Balaji, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna and Radha, Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva and Parvati with their children Ganesh and Karthik, and Lord Rama and Sita.
• Cultural Exchange and Tolerance: The inauguration of the BAPS mandir aligns with the UAE's Year of Tolerance initiative, emphasizing the nation's commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and cultural exchange.