Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple today, marking the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The inauguration ceremony begins at 6 PM IST. Located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba, off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, the iconic stone temple stands as a symbol of cultural and religious significance. Here are five interesting facts about the BAPS Hindu Mandir:
– The sprawling BAPS Hindu Mandir occupies a vast 27-acre plot of land.
– Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, generously donated the land for the temple’s construction. Initially gifting 13.5 acres in 2015, he later contributed an additional 13.5 acres in 2019.
– The inauguration of the temple will be celebrated during the 12-day ‘Festival of Harmony,’ running from February 10 to February 21. This festival encompasses a series of programs and community events.
– The foundation stone for the BAPS Hindu Mandir was laid in April 2019, with construction officially commencing in December of the same year.
– According to reports, the construction cost of the temple is estimated to be approximately 400 million United Arab Emirates dirhams.
