Foundation stone for first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi laid in colourful ceremony


Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Apr 20: The historic foundation stone-laying ceremony of the first traditional Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi was performed on Saturday, April 20 in the presence of thousands of Indian community people and officials from India and the UAE.

Pujas began at 9 am and the foundation stones were laid at 11.45 am. Over 2,500 Indians from the UAE and across the world took part in the ceremony.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha, was present at the vedic rituals. Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, director of Community Development Department, Thani Al Zoyoudi, Minister of Climate Change, and Ahmad Bilhoul Al Falasi, minister of state for Higher Education Affairs and Advanced Sciences, graced the occasion. Maharaj presided over the foundation stone-laying rituals along with other priests.

B R Shetty, chairman of NMC Group and Navdeep Suri, Indian ambassador to the UAE who were present, also laid foundation stones and cement to complete the ceremony.


The BAPS Hindu Mandir is located at Abu Mureikha, E11 Expressway, Exit 366 Abu Dhabi. BAPS is responsible for building the temple. The sanctification of the land was performed at the site in Abu Mureikhah area on February 11, 2018.

The temple is being built on 13.5 acres of land gifted by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the Indian community. In the Year of Tolerance, the UAE government has gifted an equal area of land additionally for building parking facilities in the temple premises.


Earlier Report

Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi (SP)

Abu Dhabi, Apr 20: A Hindu temple that is being entirely built out of stones is being constructed here for the first time. Foundation stone laying ceremony for the temple began at the site where the temple will come up on Saturday April 20. Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of Swaminarayan Sanstha that will construct the temple, will guide the procedures.

UAE foreign affairs and international cooperation minister, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and minster for tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, will garce the occasion. A number of leaders of various sectors including spiritual and social, along with thousands of believers will get together for the occasion at Abu Murelkha near Al Rahba to participate in the programme.

On his arrival, Swami Maharaj and others including priests from India who accompanied him were given a grand reception on arrival by Sheikh Nahyan on Friday at Al Maktoum international airport. Children in traditional attire gave the spiritual leader a floral welcome.

Pink sand stones are being used to lay the foundation of the temple. The priests offered puja to them besides performing holy rituals lasting a few hours. These stones have been brought from Rajasthan in India.

The temple complex will also have cultural complex, library, and other facilities. For participation in the function, passes were distributed in advance to those who donated Dh 2,500 or Dh 5,000 for the construction of the temple, in the form of 'Yajaman Seva'.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Moshu, Mangaluru

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    On the contrary yogi and like minded with free hand given by thier high command engage in hatred campaign to prove "Green color" virus and change names and colors of cities and govt institutions sheer to appease intolerants to grab few votes.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • NR, mangalore

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    DO best for others , for your self, best for society in this one life, one earth..

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kudla Stories, Kudla

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    Unfortunate but a lesson for the BJP govt to learn.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • SP Shetty, Kateel

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    Wish each and every Muslim and chritian country gets temples like this, like India.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence, USA

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    Fulfilling spiritual needs are very important in human life irrespective of one's religious belief. Salute to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi for understanding these needs. I wish all other countries will follow this example. Please keep the politics out of religion.

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • SmR, Karkala

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    In BJP ruled CM Yogi's Gurgram of Uttar Pradesh his party watered parks to prevent Muslims from offering Friday prayers due to lack of Mosques.
    Two hundred and thirty unique Islamic monuments, including an exquisite 400-year-old mosque, were destroyed or vandalized during the recent anti-Muslim riots in the Indian state of Gujarat. Islamic Relief Committee of Gujarat (IRCG), an NGO, which contended that 535 religious places were affected. But none was rebuild including Ahmedabad's 15th-century sultan and founder, Ahmad Shah I, married a Rajput (Hindu), princess. His mosques and civic buildings incorporated Islamic and Rajput elements and he employed Hindus in the highest offices of state.

    The UAE leadership has set a great example of secularism offering huge land to build 'Hindu temple' in the Arab land.

    Is Something PM Modi government need to learn which has miserably failed across India.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [12] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • VALERIAN RODRIGUES, UJIRE

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    ONLY IN UAE ANY OTHER RELIGIONS CAN BUILD THE THEIRS TEMPLE.BECOUSE IN THAT COUNTRY MORE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDERS.IN OTHER MUSLIM NATIONS NON MUSLIMS CANT PRACTICE THEIRS RELIGIOUS FAITH PEERLESSLY.IN BANGLA ,PAKISTHAN,EGIPT,SIRIA,IRAN,IRAK,SUDAN,ETHIYOPIA,ETC.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mary D'Souza, OLD GOA

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    good thank god

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sheikh M, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Abudhabi's Crown Prince donated land for building temple
    Can Modi government at least allow Muslims to rebuild Babri Masjid?

    DisAgree [45] Agree [81] Reply Report Abuse

  • Augustine Daniel DSouza, Udupi Mumbai STATE OF KUWAIT.

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Congratulations for first HINDU TEMPLE in ABU DHABI.
    JAI HIND JAI HINDUSTAN JAI MAHARASHTRA

    DisAgree [9] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • James, Belman

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Congratulations to our hindu brothers and to the UAE government. Peace to all.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [45] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred J. Lewis, Matpady-Brahmavar/ New York, USA

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Congratulations to the Organizers of Hindu Temple, of Abu Dhabi. Very positive move by the Abu Dhabi Sheikh and the Government.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santosh, Manglore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Great work. Let us appreciate the great initiative from both countries. Hope together we can do more similar works.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • D’Souza, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    So called Hindu bhakths should learn from Muslim majority countries to live in harmony.

    DisAgree [48] Agree [81] Reply Report Abuse

  • Narendra Prabhu, Bangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    It's first temple sir, india has thousands of temples mosques and churches.
    Who has to learn we or them?

    DisAgree [30] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • Surendra Poojari, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Narendra so what? India belongs to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains and all other religions and we are a democratic country so we have so many temples, churches and mosques. Sad thing is we fight based on religion/caste/creed and we need to learn from muslim and christian countries where they allowed to build temples.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [50] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arman, Dubai

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Dear, India is not country of any particular faith to highlight number of churches and Masjid. Every religion is equally got rights to establish their place of worship since the country based on secularism, democracy and multicultural.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • SAMAD, Mangalore

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    Its not first, and India is not hindu rastra but Abu Dhabi is islamic country..

    DisAgree [6] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • K Narendra Prabhu, Bangalore

    Sun, Apr 21 2019

    So I just wanted to know what is the lesson for Hindu bhakts. I feel as Indians we must be proud of some things , also learn things from others, is there some thing to learn here? I don't think so

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Why can't we all live in Peace ...

    DisAgree [18] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rashmi, mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    what a wonderful gesture by the ruler of Abu dhabi. Long live the king. However, it is very sad that in India muslims and christians are being targetted by the majority community due to the instigation by balatkari janara party and also the group that does not wear trousers.

    DisAgree [34] Agree [81] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aadil Khan, Bellary/KSA

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Agreed with Ms. Rashmi.

    It is a welcome move by the UAE authorities. But back home in our country some BJP leaders in UP was telling other day that Muslims are breeding like anything and all should vote for Modi to curtail the Muslim population and their prevelages in India.

    This is the irony and hypocrisy of some fringe minded leaders!

    DisAgree [13] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishal Kumar, Kottara Chowkidar

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Now where are the andh bahkts who get khujli from 'sickulars'.These sickulars in UAE have allowed us to build a temple in their country,whereas in India some muslims are not allowed to buy houses in some localities.
    Mandir Wahi Banega has become Mandir Nahi Banega under Modi.UAE has done hat Modi couldn't do in 5 years.
    Modi hain toh Namumkin hain.

    DisAgree [17] Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse

  • ahmed, mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    NEXT UAE NATIONAL FLAG Colours will be changed to KESARI.....

    DisAgree [35] Agree [50] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sameer, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    When is the babari masjid going to rebuild.

    DisAgree [29] Agree [63] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Canada

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Sameer, as you know God lives within us. Our body itself is temple of god. In reality big building for god is just a show but god wants us to be his building means bodies.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sameer, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    You are absolutely correct.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stany D souza, Dubai

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Good news to one more temple at Abu dhabi, U.A.E. As per the knowledge i have, already there is temple in Dubai, U.A.E. So, it can not be mentioned first Hindu temple in UAE.

    We should wish there should minimum one temple in every region to facilitate to express respective faith .

    DisAgree [6] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Great news I wish all other GCC also allow to laid the foundation stone as well.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [46] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prithviraj, Shikaripura

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Nothing but chamtakar of modiji.

    DisAgree [171] Agree [60] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nash, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Yes you are absolutely right... It was after Mr. Modi's visit to UAE the king as a gesture of friendship promised to build a temple... All international awards given to Mr. Modi speaks volumes about the work he has done.

    DisAgree [107] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gladson, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    YES RIGHT!!!!! MODI is the reason for everything.. The NEW temple in UAE credit: MODI, ANTi-SATELLITE MISSILE test mission credit: MODI, SURGICAL STRIKES credit: MODI. Do we really give credits to people who have worked hard for it? Did US president take credit for Katie Bouman's Blackhole image discovery?

    DisAgree [20] Agree [77] Reply Report Abuse

  • Baba, Karkala

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Really Great welcome for temple but This Chamatkari person should help build Church ,Masjid and many more.He should help build hospital ,school, road, agricultral universites many more in India .Only foundation and ribbon cutting in last 5 years ...

    DisAgree [15] Agree [46] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alfred, Mangalorec

    Sat, Apr 20 2019

    Chamatkar from not Modi Chamatkar from our own Respected B.R.Shetty

    DisAgree [6] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse


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