Moment to celebrate! BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi gets government license
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Abu Dhabi, September 23: Showcasing true religious compassion, the UAE government yesterday awarded license to First traditional Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, BAPS Hindu Mandir. Eighteen Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches and the Hindu temple were awarded license in ceremony held yesterday.
Welcoming the move, senior religious leader of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Brahmavihari Swami said, “we have experienced an environment of love, tolerance and harmony everywhere in the UAE - right from the Royal Courts and the government departments to the people in the streets,”
“The UAE government has gone one step further by creating a Department of Community Development which proactively attends to the needs of a diverse society. Furthermore, the issuance of official licenses to various places of worship in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is a remarkable sign of sincerity,” Swami said.
Swami further added that this will only strengthen the deep trust and sense of security between the government and religious institutions. It will form a pathway for greater communication and generate an atmosphere wherein under its shelter, communities will not just develop, but flourish.
The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir the first traditional Hindu stone mandir in the Middle East. It is situated on 55,000 square meters of land. In August 2015, the UAE government announced the decision to provide land for building a Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first official visit to the country.
“The UAE government has gone one step further by creating a Department of Community Development which proactively attends to the needs of a diverse society. Furthermore, the issuance of official licenses to various places of worship in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is a remarkable sign of sincerity,” Brahmavihari Swami
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force gifted the land for the mandir. Construction of the temple is currently underway since 2015, and is expected to open its doors in 2020.
For the construction, tonnes of pink sandstone is being shipped from northern Rajasthan to Abu Dhabi. The durable stones from the northern Indian state are selected for their ability to withstand scorching summer temperatures of up to 50 °C.
In addition to the universal inspirations provided by the more than 1,200 BAPS mandirs around the world, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi hopes to be a part of the UAE’s mission of happiness and harmony by helping to foster love, tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence; facilitate the traditional practice of the Hindu faith, interfaith dialogue, pluralism and universal human values and serve the 3.3 million Indians residing in the UAE along with millions of international tourists annually visiting the UAE.