PM Modi inaugurates BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir: 10 facts about UAE’s first Hindu temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the BAPS Swaminarayan temple on Wednesday February 14 in Abu Dhabi amid devotional chants and in the presence of spiritual leaders of the Swaminarayan sect. (Image: PTI)

Dressed in a light pink silk dhoti and kurta paired with a sleeveless jacket and stole, the prime minister participated in rituals of a ceremony to dedicate the temple to the people.. It is the first Hindu temple in the UAE. (Image: Reuters)

The prime minister also offered water in the virtual Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the temple before proceeding to inaugurate the temple. He also participated in Global Aarti, which was performed simultaneously at over 1,200 temples of the Swaminarayan sect worldwide. Here are the salient features of the temple: (Image: Reuters)

1 | The 108-foot temple is built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a denomination of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. (Image: Reuters)

2 | BAPS has close to 1,550 temples across the globe. It runs 3,850 centres and 17,000 weekly assemblies. (Image: Reuters)

3 | Built-in the traditional Nagar style, the Hindu temple has seven shikhars, each symbolising an Emirate of the UAE. (Image: Reuters)

4 | BAPS temple is spread over 27 acres of land gifted by the UAE government. The temple complex is on 13.5 acres, while the remaining 13.5 acres is a parking area. (Image: Reuters)

5 | The temple has a height of 108 feet, while its length is 262 feet and width 180 feet. (Image: AP)

6 | Over ₹700 crore has been spent on the construction of the BAPS temple. (Image: Reuters)

7 | The temple’s external façade uses Rajasthan’s pink sandstone, while its interiors have been made using Italian marble. (Image: Reuters)

8 | Around 20,000 tonne of stones and marble were shipped to the UAE in 700 containers for the temple’s construction. (Image: Reuters)

9 | The temple boasts two central domes — Dome of Harmony and Dome of Peace. (Image: PTI)

10 | Among other amenities include a Wall of Harmony, an assembly hall with 3,000 people capacity, a community centre, exhibitions, classrooms, and others. (Image: AP)