The consecration ceremony of the Buddha statue started this morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple in less than two hours, marking the end of his two-day visit to the UAE. The inauguration of the BAPS temple, built at a cost of Rs 7 billion, is seen as a pivotal moment for the Hindu community in the UAE and the Middle East.
The 108-foot-tall structure will also be the largest Hindu temple in the Middle East, covering an area of 27 acres. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then Crown Prince, donated 13.5 acres of land in 2015 at Abu Mreikhah in Abu Dhabi for the construction of a temple. An additional 13.5 acres of land was donated in 2019, after which the temple was built. The temple started.
The temple was built by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha and the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Modi in 2018. The consecration ceremony of the idol started this morning.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the UAE for the third time in eight months, delivering a keynote address at the World Government Summit before heading to Abu Mreikhah to inaugurate a temple. He also held bilateral meetings with Dubai Emir Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated Bharat Mart, a warehousing facility to provide a unified platform for exporters to showcase their diverse products under one roof, like China’s ‘Dragon Mart’ “Same.
After the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Doha and meet leaders in Qatar. Qatar released eight Indian navy veterans ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country, in what was seen as a huge diplomatic victory for India.
