The expansive Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi was constructed by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS society, and was consecrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Alongside priests, PM Modi also said prayers at the temple.
On Wednesday, the temple’s consecration was finished in advance of PM Modi’s inaugural speech.
This will be the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, constructed on 27 acres of land, with a distinctive blend of UAE identity and Indian culture.
Salient features of BAPS Mandir:
1. The temple is situated on a 27-acre tract of land in Abu Mureikhah, close to Al Rahba, off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, which was donated by the UAE government. In 2019, a stone-laying ceremony was held.
2. The expansive building houses a children’s park, a community center, an exhibition hall, a library, and a prayer hall that can accommodate 3,000 people.
3. Made from more than 25,000 pieces of stone, the temple’s exterior is adorned with exquisite marble carvings created by talented artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat against a backdrop of pink sandstone. They shipped the pink sandstone from Rajasthan.
4. The temple features the traditional Nagar style of architecture. It stands tall at 108 feet, being crowned with seven shikhars (spires) each representing one of the seven emirates of the UAE.
5. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers’ features and finely sculpted ghats encircle the BAPS Mandir. The “Dome of Harmony” and the “Dome of Peace” are the two primary domes of the temple. Eight idols, representing the eight pillars of Sanatana Dharma, mark the entry to the shrine.
6. The temple houses seven shrines, each dedicated to different deities hailing from the North, East, West and South parts of India.
7. The temperature, pressure, stress, and seismic events of the structure are monitored by about 150 sensors, which guarantees the temple’s longevity and safety.
8. The BAPS Mandir has already been bestowed with several honors, including the Best Mechanical Project of the Year 2019, at the MEP Middle East Awards, Best Interior Design Concept of the Year 2020, Best Architecture Style and Best Traditional Nagar Style.
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