Abu Dhabi: The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi has been awarded the prestigious accolades in the audiovisual industry: the MONDO-DR Award in the category of House of Worship. Dubbed as the "Oscars of the AV world," the awards, held at Ole Red Orlando, Florida, celebrated the highest achievements in audio-visual integration across entertainment venues, architectural landmarks, and cultural spaces.
This recognition cements the Mandir not only as a spiritual and architectural marvel but also as a technological benchmark for immersive AV design in sacred spaces.
A category filled with global excellence
The House of Worship category at this year’s awards featured a record number of entries from across the world. With dozens of high-profile submissions showcasing advanced audio and immersive lighting systems, the competition was fierce. Judged by a panel of international experts, the awards identify exceptional projects that merge innovation with impact. The award holds a similar prestige to what an Academy Award represents in film.
First in spiritual experience engineering
Conceived as the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, the BAPS Hindu Mandir stands as a symbol of peace and harmony and now, thanks to its sophisticated AV implementation, as a global showcase of innovation. Designed to create a deeply spiritual, yet technologically enriched atmosphere, the AV system integrates seamlessly into the aesthetic, acoustic, and ceremonial fabric of the temple complex. The award-winning audiovisual system was developed through a global collaboration of AV consultants, lighting designers, acoustic engineers, and AV integrators.
Transcending technology
The show itself is the culmination of creative concepts, scripting, visualizations, animations, and meticulous designing by an in-house BAPS Team of swamis and volunteers with selfless assistance by professional audio-visual experts. It has been brought to life using 20 video projectors and a cutting- edge surround sound experience.
The immersive experience
The audience is transported through time and space, witnessing and experiencing all the pivotal moments; such as His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s first prayer in the deserts of Sharjah (1997), the generosity of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Presidential Palace (2018), and the spiritually charged inauguration performed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2024).
