On Wednesday, 14th February, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Swaminarayan Mandir in Abu Dhabi, which is the first actual Hindu Mandir in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Prime Minister Modi is in the UAE on 13-14 February. During his two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi will also engage in bilateral discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
#WATCH | Visuals of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it on February 14. pic.twitter.com/l154agVh6J
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024
This will be PM Modi’s third visit to the UAE in the last 8 months. Apart from the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, PM Narendra Modi will also address the Indian diaspora at the ‘Ahlan Modi‘ event on 13th February 2024. According to Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sanjay Sudhir, more than 65000 people have registered to participate in this event.
Sudhir said, “We had to actually close the registration as soon as the mark touched 65,000 because we could not accommodate anymore.”
While PM Modi will inaugurate the BAPS Mandir on 14th February, the gates of the Mandir will be thrown open for the common people from 1st March 2024. The temple complex will also have various facilities such as a visitor center, prayer room, exhibitions, learning center, playing area for children and youth, gardens, water amenities, food court, as well as shops for books and gifts.
Regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, UAE Ambassador to India Abdul Nasir Al Shali stated that both countries are strengthening their ties due to the values of tolerance and acceptability. Prime Minister Modi will also attend the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai as the ‘Guest of Honor’ and address the summit.
Pertinent to note that Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha), Swaminarayan Aksharpith Mandir is the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The Mandir Complex is spread across 27 acres of land gifted by the Emir of the United Arab Emirates. Swaminarayan Mandir Director Pranab Desai expressed his gratitude to the UAE and Indian leadership for this Mandir.
According to the website of the Swaminarayan sect, this sect has Hindu Mandirs located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ruwais in the UAE. These temples are either already built or under construction. In the Middle East, Swaminarayan temples are also located in Muscat and Sohar in Oman, as well as in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Source: OpIndia
