Abu Dhabi’s BAPS temple will open to the public from March 1
The first Indian temple-style Hindu temple in the Middle East, BAPS Hindu Temple in the United Arab Emirates, will open its doors to the public on March 1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi On 14th February.
“The temple will be open to the public from 9 am to 8 pm from March 1. The temple will remain closed for visitors every Monday,” according to a temple spokesperson.
The temple was grandly inaugurated by PM Modi during his UAE visit on Basant Panchami and was attended by over 5,000 invitees.
From February 15 to 29, foreign devotees or VIP guests who registered in advance were allowed to visit the temple.
This temple built in the desert is unique, Built at a cost of approximately Rs 700 crore, the temple is spread over a 27-acre plot in Abu Mureekha near Al Rahba.
Built using over 1.8 million cubic meters of sandstone sourced from Rajasthan, the temple boasts of the Nagara style of architecture similar to the recently inaugurated Ram temple in Ayodhya.
An Indian-origin investment banker left Dubai to become a full-time volunteer at the BAPS Abu Dhabi Temple, Vishal Patel now serves as the chief communications officer of the temple.
Baps Hindu temple has seven peaks
The BAPS Hindu Temple is constructed according to the ancient styles of construction and construction described in the Craft and Architecture Shastras, the Hindu texts on temple design and architecture.
The façade of the temple has marble carvings on a sandstone background, crafted by artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Specifically, the design includes seven pinnacles, each representing the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
“The seven peaks have idols of deities including Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Lord Swaminarayan (believed to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna), Tirupati Balaji and Lord Ayyappa. The seven peaks represent the seven emirates of the UAE,” BAPS head of international relations Swami Brahmaviharidas told PTI.
Carvings of camels and the falcon, the national bird of the UAE, have also been incorporated into the design of the temple.
The temple has intricate depictions of Hindu deities and stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
However, it also depicts narratives and artistic elements from Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese, and African civilizations.
Other notable architectural elements include two ghumats (domes), 12 samarans (dome-like structures) and 402 pillars. The two Ghumats are the “Dome of Peace” and the “Dome of Harmony”.
Temple’s dedication to inclusivity extends even further. The sacred water of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers flows on both sides of the temple, which is specially brought from India.