BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi ready for Modi’s visit on Wednesday
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Abu Dhabi: The official consecration of the iconic BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi will take place on Wednesday in an invitation-only ceremony in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.
Built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the temple located on Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road (E11), is one of the 1,100 mandirs and 3,850 centers of the volunteer-driven fellowship across the world.
The temple will be open to those who have pre-registered on February 18. In view of the large number of registrations from foreign visitors, the general public has been advised to visit the temple from March 1.
In the run-up to Wednesday’s ceremony, the temple celebrated the ‘Festival of Harmony’ and the ‘Vishwa Samvadita Yagna’ (Vedic prayers for global harmony) on February 11.
Take a look
What: BAPS Hindu Mandir Opening Ceremony
Where: Abu Dhabi
When: February 14
Who: guests only
Check-in time: 2-3 pm
Check-in location: media tent in front of parking lot
Guests must be seated by 3:30 p.m. as doors will close.
Image Credit: Vijith Pulikkal/Gulf News
Yagna is a devotional offering used to seek the blessings of the Almighty. The first event of its kind in the region brought together dignitaries, spiritual leaders and community members to pray for peace, harmony and the well-being and success of all in the UAE and around the world, according to a statement . He said from the temple.
global unity
Seven expert priests had traveled from India to officiate the ancient ceremonial rituals, which connected participants through offerings and prayers. More than 200 devotees helped perform the ceremony.
Swami Brahmaviharidas, project leader of the mandir under the leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, said: “The occasion served as the perfect way to pay tribute to the mandir’s message of global unity. The peace and coexistence that were evoked embody a ray of hope for future generations that the Mandir will reinforce.”
On January 31, the temple authorities gave the media an exclusive tour of the mandir.
The structure, which consists of seven towers representing the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, is spread over 27 acres of land, donated by the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Half a dozen trees brought from the Czech Republic dot the path to the temple, where three bodies of water have been built to symbolically represent the sacred rivers of ancient India: Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswathi. Also among the temple’s many attractions is the “Wall of Harmony”, a structure donated by the Bohra community in the United Arab Emirates.
2,500 artisans
The temple structure consists of more than 30,000 carved stones, handcrafted by 2,500 artisans from Rajasthan in India. While the carvings of elephants, peacocks and cows represent stories related to Indian culture, those of oryx, gazelles, camels and falcons represent Arab culture.
The carvings on the outer pillars of the structure tell stories related to Hindu scriptures. A pillar inside the temple is called the Maha Pillar or Pillar of Pillars, which consists of 400 miniature pillars made of white Italian marble.
The central dome symbolizes five elements of nature (earth, light, fire, air and space) spreading the message of harmony and interconnection between different communities.
An amphitheater with a ghat-like structure (river-facing steps) makes one feel like you’re looking at it from India, while a dune raised on the other side with sand harvested from the seven emirates gives the complex a feel of the United Arab Emirates.
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