Late yesterday night Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and the Minister of Tolerance, welcomed the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Spiritual Head Mahant Swami Maharaj to the UAE.
The visit of the spiritual Hindu leader holds significance as the foundation stone/shilanyas of the UAE’s first Hindu Temple will be laid tomorrow.
Earlier, Sheikh Nahyan had requested Brahmavihari Swami to present the idea and importance of BAPS Abu Dhabi Hindu Mandir at his special meeting for Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
Here the Hindu saint recounted the Mandir history from the first letter request to the current gift of land from The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the vision of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
The Temple in Abu Dhabi will serve the 3.3 million Indians who are residing in UAE and is expected to draw international tourists inclined towards Hinduism.
This Temple will have prayer halls, exhibitions, play area for children and youngsters and will have a vegetarian food court, garden, books and gift shop will also be there.
The UAE Hindu Temple will be an ‘a marvel of seven spires and five ornate domes’ and the BAPS Temple authorities have stated that ‘every corner and crevice will be intricately hand-carved by hundreds of artisans in India. ‘
BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi is expected to facilitate the traditional practice of the Hindu faith, interfaith dialogue, pluralism and universal human values which are central tenets of Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest religions.
Once ready and numbered, thousands of such stone pieces will be shipped to the UAE and assembled on site like a giant 3D jigsaw puzzle.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan had gifted a 13.7-acre plot of land at Abu Mureikheh, mid-way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in 2017, to enable the building of the BAPS Hindu Mandir and cultural complex.
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