Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was recently on a visit to United Arab Emirates, where he inaugurated a Hindu temple (BAPS) which coincidentally happens to be the first Abu Dhabi's Hindu temple. It happens to have a spectacular and grandeur of a marvel.

The temple was built by Bochasanwasi Akshay Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha.

The PM also offered prayers in the temple along with the priests.

After the inauguration, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and also for fulfilling the aspirations of crores of Indians.

The temple is expansive in its space occupying 27 acres of land and the temple represents an amalgamation or rather a blend of syncreticism involving the culture of Abu Dhabi and United Arab Emirates.

Marking a significant development for the Indian community in Abu Dhabi and also this temple goes to become the tallest and the largest in the Middle East.

The temple construction is not merely seen as a religious event but serves as a diplomatic tool of affinity between the relationship of India and United Arab Emirates.

It was expressed that persistent efforts of hard work and a long cherished dream of many has come true.

Referring to the consecration temple of the Lord Rama Temple at Ayodhya, the PM recalled, 'A century old dream got fulfilled and every Indian was living that feeling.'

PM Modi while addressing the people of Abu Dhabi mentioned that every moment of his life and every molecule of his body has been devoted to Ma Bharti. He added that his joy has been amplified in Abu Dhabi after the consecration of temple at Ayodhya and he holds honor and pride in the fact to have gotten an opportunity to be a part of both the grand events.

He says even the word 'Thank You' cannot surmise the gratitude he has for the President of the Abu Dhabi and the Indian and foreign community both who worked together in realization of the dream.

PM Modi holds privilege in the fact that he has been a part of the whole temple construction event since it's conceptualization to its inauguration.

Back in 2015, when the President of UAE and PM Modi met, immediately, the President had relented in favour of temple construction. They both discussed the plans, architecture and symbols of the temple, one based on Vedic tradition and another on the Hindu religious symbols. President of UAE added that no matter which structure is followed to build the temple but the temple should be in any case built with all the grandeur. He wanted that the temple should be only built but the structure should at least look like that of a temple.

Before the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi offered water in the virtual Ganga and Yamuna rivers and met people from different religious walks who were somewhere associated with the construction.

Temple authorities mentioned that 7 shikhars have been constructed to represent the seven Emirates that form the UAE. The seven idols that carve the temple are Lord Ram, Lord Shiv, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Lord Swaminarayan (considered a reincarnation of Lord Krishna), Tirupati Balaji and Lord Ayappa.

The temple aims to promote unity and harmony in this multicultural landscape and is also underlining the interconnectedness of various cultures and religions.

After the temple inauguration, PM shall head for Doha where he shall hold discussions with the Qatar leadership. This visit of PM Modi heels around the release of eight navy veterans from Qatar which has been considered as a great diplomatic victory for India.

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Reference:

• indiatoday.in
• ndtv.com