Dubai, Oct 4: A new Hindu temple constructed in Jebel Ali in Dubai is set to open on Tuesday (Oct 4), one day ahead of the Dussehra festival. The temple is an extension of the Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the UAE.
The temple's foundation was laid in Feb 2020 and the inauguration fulfils a decades-long Indian dream of having a place of worship in the area. The temple, which will be officially open to public from Oct 5, on the occasion of Dussehra festival, has welcomed people of all faiths and has allowed entry to worshippers and other visitors to view the 16 deities and other interior works.
Welcoming people from all faiths, the temple has already had its soft opening on Sept 1 2022, where thousands of visitors were allowed to get a glimpse of the interiors of the temple built with white marble. It has ornate pillars, Arabic and Hindu geometric designs on the facade, and bells on the ceiling. The temple management had activated the QR-code-based appointment booking system via its website on its soft opening.
Most of the deities are installed in the main prayer hall with a large 3D-printed pink lotus unfurling across the central dome. According to the official temple website, Dubai's new Hindu temple will be open from 6:30 am to 8 pm. Visitors who have booked their appointments to visit the temple from Dubai's official website for Oct 5, will be allowed entry without being subject to the hourly number restrictions which are currently in place.
Located in what is described as the 'Worship Village' in Jebel Ali which houses several churches and the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, the temple has also installed the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs, in August.