Why PM Modi inaugurating Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple matters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the inauguration of a grand Hindu temple next year. If the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya comes to mind, you are not wrong. But we are talking about the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, where the PM is slated to participate in February. Weeks after the grand opening of the Ram temple in January, Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital for the unveiling of another Hindu shrine. He recently accepted the invitation extended by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha for the event on 14 February. What to know about the BAPS Hindu Mandir? Why PM Modi’s trip to Abu Dhabi for the inauguration is significant? Let’s try to understand. BAPS Hindu Mandir in UAE The BAPS Hindu Mandir is the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. As per a report by The National, it is the Gulf nation’s first traditional hand-carved Hindu temple, situated in the capital’s Abu Mureikha area. The temple has seven shikhars or mounted peaks, representing the Emirates. Each section of these shikhars depicts the tales and teachings of deities worshiped by Hindus. “The spires (shikhars) symbolically represent the seven emirates of the UAE as our way to say thank you to the leadership,” Pranav Desai, the temple project director told The National. “There will also be 14 value tales from the Arabic region, Chinese, Aztec and from Mesopotamia that show how love is universal across all cultures,” he added. The temple, which can accommodate 8,000 to 10,000 people, will be open to all faiths.

The shrine is an architectural marvel, with the stories of each deity exhibited in carvings, as per The National report. It took 2,000 artisans in Rajasthan and Gujarat to carve 402 white marble pillars over the last three years for the temple structure. All pillars are different, replete with stories from Indian scriptures. Sculptures of animals, birds, musicians and even the Moon adorn the temple. Over 20,000 tonnes of stone and marble were shipped to Abu Dhabi in the last three years for the construction of the “landmark” temple, the report added. Besides the temple complex, there will be several buildings, such as prayer halls, a community centre, a library, a children’s park and an amphitheatre on the premises. Why it is important The first Hindu temple in the Emirati capital promotes the “strategic vision” of India and the UAE. The Gulf nation has the largest Indian diaspora population, estimated to be nearly 3.5 million, followed by the United States (2.7 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.5 million). The UAE had decided to allocate land for the building of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi in 2015 during PM Modi’s two-day trip to the country. The visit was diplomatically important as he was the first Indian prime minister after Indira Gandhi to visit the Gulf nation in 34 years. The Indian premier had thanked the UAE government at the time, calling the decision “a great step”. In 2018, Modi launched the project for the temple, revealing a marble and stone monument with seven spires to depict the Emirates. It will be a “holy place where humanity and harmony will unite”, he said at the time about the shrine. The temple is being constructed on over 5.4 hectares of land gifted in 2015 by the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed to the Indian community. “The temple connects two cultures, two countries that are already so close to bring them even closer together,” the temple project director Desai told The National. He said 14 February 2024 was chosen for the consecration ceremony as it falls on the auspicious Basant Panchami. “On 14 February morning, there will be the murti pratishtha or invocation of the murtis (idols) and in the evening, we will have a public dedication ceremony in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Desai was quoted as saying by the Abu Dhabi-headquartered newspaper. ‘Essence of spiritual harmony’ Representatives of the BAPS organisation, led by Swami Ishwarcharandas and Swami Brahmaviharidas, met PM Modi at his official residence in New Delhi earlier this week. In a meeting that lasted almost an hour, the BAPS delegation deliberated on the importance of the temple in Abu Dhabi for “global harmony” and Modi’s “vision for India’s spiritual leadership on the global stage”, the organisation said in a statement. “The BAPS delegation prayed for the Prime Minister’s health and acknowledged his exceptional global achievements, notably strengthening relationships with the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries,” the statement read, as per ANI. PM Modi reportedly told the delegation that the temple will “reflect the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - an ideal spiritual space, not merely rooted in beliefs and traditions, but a confluence of diverse cultures and civilisations. The essence of spiritual harmony, symbolising the path forward.” Opposition questions PM The PM accepting the invite for the inauguration has irked the Opposition. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor wrote on X that he “expects elections to be called soon after” the BAPS event. General elections in India are set to take place next year.

“The message is clear…In 2019, with that narrative collapsing in the wake of the disastrous demonetisation, the Pulwama terrorist attack gave Modi the opportunity to convert the general election into a national security election. In 2024, it is clear the BJP will now revert to its core message and offer Narendra Modi to the nation as a Hindu Hriday Samrat.” With inputs from agencies