PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), starting from 13th February 2024, will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. During his visit, PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Currently, the UAE also hosting the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai, which will be attended by PM Narendra Modi as a Guest of Honour and deliver a special keynote address at the Summit. Here is the brief about the World Government Summit 2024, PM Modi's visit to the UAE, and First Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.

World Government Summit 2024

• The World Government Summit is annually held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• The 11th edition of the World Government Summit 2024, is being organized in Dubai from February 12 to 14, 2024.

• This year, the World Government Summit was held under the main theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’, along with five others.

• The summit is being participated by several nations to anticipate future opportunities and challenges while addressing crucial global issues.

• Along with India’s PM Modi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (President of Türkiye), and  Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Than will attend the summit as a Guest of Honour.

• During the 11th World Government Summit, awards such as ‘Best Minister in the World’, ‘Best Sustainable Development Practices’, and ‘Creative Government Innovations Award’, will be presented.

PM Modi's visit to the UAE

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 13th February 2024.

• During his visit, he will attend the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai, and inaugurate the first Hindu temple, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

• During his visit, he will also address the Indian community in the UAE at an event in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

• About 3.5 million strong and vibrant Indian communities form the largest expatriate group in UAE.

• Since 2015, this is the seventh visit of PM Modi to the UAE.

The first Hindu temple, BAPS Mandir, in Abu Dhabi

• BAPS Mandir, Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, the UAE will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his two-day visit to the UAE.

• About Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha:

  • It is a socio-spiritual Hindu faith with its roots in the Vedas.

  • It is based on the Vedic teachings, which were propagated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830 CE).

  • It was established by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj in 1907 CE.

  • Views of BAPS followers: No Alcohol, No Addictions, No Adultery, No Meat, No Impurity of body

  • Focus Ares: Education and women's development

  • It was built upon the principles of practical spirituality.

  • BAPS endeavours to address the spiritual, moral, and social challenges prevalent in our world today.

  • Its strength lies in the purity of its objectives and intentions.

• About BAPS temple:

  • The temple will open to the public on March 1, 2024.

  • Constructed on a 27-acre plot

  • The temple is a stunning architectural marvel that holds a prayer hall having a capacity of 3,000 people.

  • The foundation stone of the temple was laid down in April 2019.

  • It was built with 1.80 lakh cubic feet of pink Rajasthan sandstone, 50,000 cubic feet of pristine white Italian marble and 18 lakh bricks.

  • The temple stands tall at 108 feet, being crowned with seven shikhars (spires) each representing one of the seven emirates of the UAE.

  • The surroundings of the temple are meticulously crafted ghats and features of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna.

  • The temple has two central domes -- the ‘Dome of Harmony’ and ‘Dome of Peace’.

  • The entrance of the temple is marked by eight murtis (idols), symbolising the eight values foundational to Sanatana Dharma.

  • The temple space is an ode to human harmony and coexistence with nature, meticulously depicted through the carvings of earth, water, fire, air, and plant life on a dome.

  • It is surrounded by monolithic structures

  • The temples house an astounding 402 pillars, meticulously carved from 25,000 stone pieces.

  • The temple has already won several accolades, including the Best Mechanical Project of the Year 2019, at the MEP Middle East Awards, Best Interior Design Concept of the Year 2020, Best Architecture Style and Best Traditional Nagar Style.

India- UAE Relations: Conclusion

• Since 2015, it has been the seventh visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the third in the past eight months. This shows the close ties between the leadership of the two nations.

• In February 2022, both nations signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

• In July 2023, both countries also signed for a Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System to promote the use of the Indian rupee and UAE dirham for cross-border transactions.

• During the FY 2022-23, the bilateral trade between both nations reached $85 billion and the UAE is among the top four investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments (FDI).