Vikram Misri Visits BAPS Mandir in UAE, Deeply Moved by Spiritual Harmony
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, during his official tour of the United Arab Emirates. The visit to the UAE’s first traditional Hindu temple, inaugurated last year, marks a deepening of cultural and spiritual ties between the two nations.
Accompanied by Joint Secretary for Gulf Affairs Aseem Raja Mahajan, Ambassador Sanjay Sudhir, and other senior officials, Misri was warmly received by Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, the head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir.
The Foreign Secretary was given a traditional welcome and was particularly captivated by The Fairy Tale, an immersive audiovisual experience within the temple that reflects timeless values of unity, harmony, and respect. Quoting External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Misri remarked that the mandir’s story is indeed “a fairy tale.”
Exploring the temple grounds, he was drawn to the symbolic Tolerance Trees and the Harmony Dome—both representing the UAE’s commitment to diversity and peace. Pujya Brahmavihari Swami explained the dome’s spiritual meaning, highlighting its symbolic connection between the Divine and Humanity.
Inside the sanctum, Misri offered prayers at the temple’s seven inner shrines and paid respects to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the visionary behind the mandir’s creation. Visibly moved, he described the temple as more than a religious site—it is a beacon of human unity and spiritual transcendence.
“I have had a thousand blessings today. This is not just a building; it is an expression of faith, beliefs, and ideas that are transcendental,” said Misri. “It is a mandir deserving of the highest accolades and will be spoken about for generations to come. Every Indian must visit.”
He praised the temple’s architectural brilliance, engineering excellence, and the universal values it stands for, calling it a “global symbol of interfaith harmony and cultural dialogue.”
The Foreign Secretary also offered prayers for the enduring friendship between India and the UAE, acknowledging the mandir as a milestone in India’s spiritual and diplomatic outreach.
