Home Art & Culture Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates UAE’s First Hindu Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates UAE’s First Hindu Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates UAE’s First Hindu Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates UAE’s First Hindu Temple


New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at the Dubai Opera House on 11th February 12, on the second day of his UAE tour and laid the foundation stone for a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. He arrived at Oman’s Muscat Sunday evening.

While addressing the people in Muscat PM Modi had stated that, “I came to Oman almost ten years ago. As a Chief Minister of Gujarat, I had a visit to Africa, and during this time I passed through ‘Salala’. I wanted to visit Oman from a long time and that opportunity has come today.” He was very happy and fortunate to see a diverse diaspora had gathered in such huge numbers, he added while welcoming them all.

PM Modi tweeted pictures- Glimpses from the community programme at Muscat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for allowing India to construct the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Temple. PM Narendra Modi had inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple during his three-nation tour to Palestine, Oman and the UAE.

The design and the structure of the temple are quite similar to that of the Akshardham temple in New Delhi. In 2015, during Narendra Modi’s first visit to the UAE, the government had allocated land in Abu Dhabi for the first Hindu temple. Approximately 20,000 sq m complex will come up in Al Wathba, 30 minutes away from the city. The temple will have idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Maheshwara, Lord Ayyappa and many other and also it will feature a garden and a water-front.

The temple will not be only distinctive in terms of architecture and grandeur, but will also give a message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one) to people across the world, PM Modi, informed the people. Mridul Kumar, joint secretary in charge of the Gulf region had stated- “The structure of the temple, the deities, and the idols are aspects that the Indian community will have to work out with the UAE government.”

It is expected that the temple will be hand-carved by artisans from India and will be accumulated in the UAE. Probably it will be completed within next two years, and open to people of all faiths in the UAE. Navdeep Singh Suri who is the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, had mentioned, that he is pretty confident that once the temple constructed, it will be a shining example not only of Indian culture in the UAE but also for the UAE’s own spirit of tolerance that celebrates diversity and allows all community the space to practice their religion, culture, identity, and language.