Mahant Swami Maharaj reaches Abu Dhabi for the inauguration of the UAE's first Hindu temple
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the temple on February 14, days after the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
New Delhi: Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, reached Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for the grand inauguration of the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The spiritual leader will preside over the historic inauguration of the first Hindu temple in the Gulf state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the temple on February 14, days after the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Mahant Swami Maharaj was received as a state guest by the UAE Minister of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan.
The minister warmly welcomed the spiritual guru and said, “Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.”
When the BAPS spiritual guru arrived in Abu Dhabi, a large number of Swaminarayan Sanstha members and devotees also turned up to greet him.
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the temple on February 14 in the presence of saints, swamis and thousands of devotees. A wave of religious fervor and festive atmosphere has already started, with thousands of devotees visiting the grand complex.
Modi will also address the Indian diaspora at the grand Sheikh Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi. More than 50,000 people are likely to attend the event titled 'Ahlan Modi'.
'Ahlan Modi', meaning 'Hello Modi', is billed as the 'largest community reception for the Prime Minister' on foreign soil.
Notably, the BAPS Mandir is the first Hindu temple built in the Middle East. Since construction work began in 2019, it has attracted the attention and interest of the Hindu community from all over the world.
Located in the Abu Mureikhah area, the majestic complex will reflect the spirit of Indian culture and also stand as a testament to the growing friendship between India and the UAE.
The foundation stone for the temple was laid on April 20, 2019. Many volunteers from the Hindu community took part in the construction of the ultra-modern complex, made using only white marble and limestone.
For those unfamiliar, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had donated 13.5 hectares of land for the construction of the temple in 2015.