The Indian Prime Minister will inaugurate the first earthquake-proof Hindu temple in the UAE on Wednesday Research: Syed Yousuf Ali

The Indian Prime Minister will inaugurate the first earthquake-proof Hindu temple in the UAE on Wednesday
Research: Syed Yousuf Ali

A testament to the enduring friendship between India and the UAE, the first Hindu temple has been completed. On February 14, Prime Minister Modi will go on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates to inaugurate the temple. The foundation stone of the temple was laid on 20 April 2019. The plan for the construction of this temple was approved by the Abu Dhabi government in 2015 during the first visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of the temple was held at a location near Al Rahba near the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway, which was attended by about 2500 Hindu pilgrims from other countries including the UAE and India. The event began in a spacious tent that was fully air-conditioned.
The temple is built on a land of 55 thousand square meters and to celebrate the UAE Year of Tolerance in 2019, the government has gifted 55 thousand square meters of parking facilities. The hundreds of tons of stones used in the construction of the temple were cut by expert craftsmen in India and then brought to the UAE and assembled. The construction of the temple has cost around Rs 900 crore. The temple has pillars made of pink stone from the Indian state of Rajasthan and white marble from Italy. At the entrance of the temple is a sand mound, which is made by sand, brought from the seven emirates. Ahead is the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, the Ganges and Yamuna flow on either side of the steps before the main entrance and the river Saraswati is visible with light.
96 bells are installed on the banks of the Ganges which represent 96 years of penance. The road leading to the temple has been fitted with cooling nano-tiles. In the temple there are seven deities including Ramsita, Shiva Parvati. Stories from the Mahabharata and Gita are carved on the stones of the outer walls. The entire Ramayana, Jagannath Yatra and Shiva Purana are also carved onto the stones of the walls. The temple premises have a pooja hall, community centre, library, children’s park and amphitheater. Sensors are placed on the foundation stones that will provide vibration, pressure, wind speed and other types of data for research.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last week visited the first under-construction Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and described it as a symbol of peace, tolerance and harmony and expressed the support of all Indians in the construction of the famous temple. Appreciated the efforts. 2000 artisans made 402 white marble pillars in 3 years. Other sculptures were also made. The construction of the temple in Abu Dhabi is now completed. No iron or steel has been used in this temple costing Rs 900 crore. Volunteer Yogesh Thakur said that the carvings have been done from the pillars to the ceiling. More than 20 thousand tons of stone and marble have been sent from India in 700 containers.
At present the Shiva and Krishna temple is the only temple in the UAE. This temple is special in many ways. Swami Maharaj conceived this temple on April 5, 1997. The land was gifted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on 10 February 2018. 27 acres of land was given by the UAE government for this temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first temple in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi on February 14, 2024 under the chairmanship of Mahant Swami Maharaj. The 7 peaks of this temple represent the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Apart from this, it has 12 Simran i.e. pyramidal peaks. The two domes of this temple are named Shanti. These two domes are located in the center of the temple. Goodwill domes are also built in this temple. They represent the five main elements of nature (fire, water, air, earth and sky). Also, the Hindu deities of North, East, South, West and Central India represent different forms of spirituality. Besides thousands of gods, goddesses, rishis and munis, thousands of sculptures are carved on the walls of this temple. Indian animals include cow, elephant, peacock, etc. along with traditional Arabian animals like camel, oryx (desert goat), falcon etc.
It also includes traditional flowers and fruits of Indian culture such as lotus and mango. Apart from this, there is the example of Tribulus Omanense and dates of Arab culture. The ‘Wall of Harmony’ of this Hindu temple is sponsored by the Dawoodi Bohra community in the UAE. The wall has Vasudheo Katanabakam written in 3D in ancient and modern languages. This temple is a successful example of combining modern technology with ancient construction techniques. The sacred waters of the confluence of the three sacred rivers of India, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, are incorporated into this temple. Along with this, the amphitheater of Varanasi ghats has been built for the evening aarti. The temple is capable of withstanding magnitude 7 earthquakes at the reactor. The Ministry of External Affairs said that this will be Prime Minister Modi’s seventh visit to the UAE since 2015. Prime Minister Modi and Al Nahyan will discuss ways to deepen, expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Prime Minister Modi will also meet the Vice President, Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. According to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on his invitation, the Prime Minister will attend the World Government Summit 2024 held in Dubai as a special guest and will deliver a special address at the summit. The ministry said in a statement that Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. He will also address the Indian community in the UAE at an event at Zayed Sports City. Chandrasekhar Bhatia, Chairman of Global Business Federation Middle East and Oasis Global Society, says the opening of a temple in Abu Dhabi is a milestone for the Hindu community in the UAE and its engagement with the Arab world.
It will boost growth in the UAE economy by adding a spiritual tourism destination. As Abu Dhabi already has a grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque, a Hindu temple in the city will take the growing economic partnership between the two countries to another level. Dubai-based Bhatia said the temple conveys the message that the UAE is a world unto itself, with citizens of 192 countries living here. This is a great opportunity to further improve relations between the community in the UAE and beyond. Apart from helping many businesses, the temple will also boost tourism and convey the message that we are different from the rest of the world.
Devendra Goenka, a textile trader and a senior member of the Agarwal Samaj, says the temple is a spiritual center that will bring the community together. Goenka added, “This is the culmination of the desire of the Hindu community for a place of worship, and it will become a symbol of brotherhood and love for Hindus and Indians across the world. Even if one ignores the religious aspect of it, Goenka added. Places of worship increase spiritual tourism and benefit local businesses. VFM Accounting Managing Partner Ramit K Mandhwani said the new Hindu temple has significantly enriched the community, fostered a spiritual connection, and provided a quiet space for reflection. The new temple has been a source of comfort and inspiration for me. It has become a place where we find solace in the midst of life’s challenges and the sense of community during religious ceremonies has strengthened our bond with fellow worshipers.