Explained: How Abu Dhabi's Hindu Temple Represents India-UAE Ties

9 months ago 40
  • Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir or BAPS Hindu Mandir is spread over a 27-acre piece of land.
  • In 2015, then crown prince and current UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, donated 13.5 acres of land for the construction of the first temple in the UAE. In 2019, he gifted an additional 13.5 acres.
  • The temple represents the idea of coexistence - A Muslim king donated land for a Hindu Mandir, where the lead architect is a Catholic Christian, the Project Manager is a Sikh, and the Foundational designer is a Buddhist. Construction Company is a Parsi group, and the director comes from a Jain tradition.
  • The iconic stone temple is located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway.
  • The cost of the construction of the temple is estimated to be around 400 million United Arab Emirates dirhams, as per reports.
  • Just like all other BAPS mandirs around the world, this mandir is open to everyone and anyone.
  • The front side panel has lifesize panels of universal values, stories of harmony from different cultures, and representation of Avatars and Hindu Spiritual leaders.
  • The external facade of the mandir uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan. The mandir interior uses Italian marble with two central domes - 'The Dome of Harmony' and 'The Dome of Peace'.
  • No iron material is used in the temple. Different types of pillars can be seen in the temple like circular, and hexagonal.
  • There are idols of historic figures, sages, and acharyas, who have sustained these values, that plinth is known as the plinth of values. Apart from Indian civilization, stories are taken from the Maya, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese and African civilizations etc
  • Buildings surrounding the mandir are modern, minimalistic and monolithic. Symbolically 7 spires pay respect to the seven emirates of the UAE.
  • At the entrance of the Mandir, eight idols were created symbolizing eight values, i.e. idol of faith, charity and love. 
  • Human co-existence and harmony are depicted in a dome through the carvings of the elements of earth, water, fire, air, plants
Article From: www.ndtv.com
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