Abu Dhabi: The grand opening of the Abu Dhabi's first traditional Hindu temple is set on February 14, 2024. The construction of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in the UAE capital, which began in December 2019, is nearing completion.
Recently, Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami, the global convener of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the organisation building the temple, performed a ceremony of showering flower petals over the spires.
Ishwarcharan Swami, along with Pujya Brahmaviharidas Swami, head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir, went up in a crane-lifted box to perform the ritual of blessing the seven spires, each representing an emirate of the UAE.
The day marked a momentous occasion for the temple, serving as a symbol of worldwide unity, tranquility, and inclusivity. Artisans, volunteers, devotees, and Ishwarcharan Swami all shared a profound sense of pride and joy as they witnessed the majestic and groundbreaking progress of Abu Dhabi's inaugural temple.
“It looks incredible and magnificent from above,” Ishwarcharan Swami said after his aerial survey of the temple. Brahmaviharidas Swami, who accompanied Ishwarcharan Swami, elaborated on the construction of the temple, which is made of pink sandstones and white marble on 27 acres of land in Abu Mureikha, off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway.
“The entire complex, parking, and the main pinnacle with smaller pinnacles, all look astonishing. The whole view is majestic,” Ishwarcharan Swami said. The monumental work of artisans depicts key moments from the Indian mythological epics Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other narratives from Hindu scriptures.