Watch: Indian Prime Minister Modi inaugurates BAPS Hindu Mandir in grand ceremony in Abu Dhabi – News

The first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East has been inaugurated in Abu Dhabi.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Mandir with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Mahant Swami Maharaj, who presided over the consecration of the temple in the morning, conducted the Vedic ceremony attended by Modi.

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Upon reaching the iconic temple that sits on 27 acres of land, Modi was welcomed by Pujya Brahmaviharidas Swami, the head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir project, and Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami.

Modi gave a long and warm hug to Brahmaviharidas Swami, a sincere appreciation for the completion of the iconic temple in the capital.

Modi visited a 3D centre, which offers a 12-minute immersive experience of the vision and journey of the temple. The Indian Prime Minister, who visited the temple for the first time since he made the initial announcement in 2015, was amazed by the intrinsic stone work and spent quality time admiring the architectural marvel.

The iconic traditional hand-carved stone temple, assembled on site like a giant 3D puzzle, is a celebration of architectural excellence and highlights the richness of ancient civilisations. Devotees started flocking in the morning hours to catch a glimpse of this masterpiece. The grand ceremony was attended by thousands of devotees and dignitaries, making it a momentous occasion for the UAE and India. Community members’ attendance was divided into different zones, and arrangements were made for people to watch the ceremony live on the big screen.

An important initiative was the simultaneous ‘aartis’, a Hindu ritual of worship, involving over 1,500 temples under the Sanstha.

Watch the video here:

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