On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the large Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, constructed by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) society. PM Modi, accompanied by priests, also participated in prayers at the temple.
Before the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi symbolically offered water in the virtual representations of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the temple site. He then proceeded to offer prayers inside the temple.
Situated on a 27-acre plot in Abu Dhabi, the temple, crafted from pink sandstone, is among the largest in the Middle East. Despite Islam being the official religion of the UAE, the nation accommodates approximately 3.6 million Indian workers.
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This temple's opening is the UAE's second significant Hindu temple inauguration. In October 2022, Dubai's temple was opened by HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE's Minister of Tolerance.
The inauguration ceremony at the temple was attended by a diverse guest list, including Indian government officials, Bollywood celebrities, and members of the wealthy Ambani family. Senior officials from Abu Dhabi were also present at the event.
Former Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Suri, described the day as highly symbolic for the Indian community, emphasizing that it fulfilled both spiritual and religious aspirations for them.