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The first Indian temple-style Hindu shrine in the Middle East, the BAPS Hindu Temple in the UAE, will open its doors to the public on March 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14.

“The temple will be open to the public from March 1 from 9 AM to 8 PM. The temple will remain closed for visitors every Monday,” according to a temple spokesperson.

The grand opening of the temple by PM Modi, during his UAE visit, coincided with Basant Panchami and was attended by over 5,000 invitees.

From February 15 to 29, overseas devotees who had registered in advance or VIP guests were allowed to visit the temple.

The temple in the desert is unique. The temple, built at a cost of approximately Rs 700 crore, is spread over a 27-acre plot in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba.

Constructed using more than 1.8 million cubic meters of sandstone sourced from Rajasthan, the temple boasts the Nagara style of architecture, similar to the recently inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

An Indian-origin investment banker left Dubai to volunteer full-time at the BAPS Abu Dhabi temple. Vishal Patel now serves as the temple’s chief communications officer.

BAPS HINDU TEMPLE HAS SEVEN SHIKHARS

The BAPS Hindu Temple has been built as per ancient styles of construction and creation mentioned in the Shilpa and Sthapathya Shastras, which are Hindu scriptures on temple design and architecture.

The temple’s facade features marble carvings set against a sandstone backdrop, crafted by artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Notably, the design incorporates seven spires, each of them representing the seven Emirates of the UAE.

“The seven spires have idols of deities, including Lord Ram, Lord Shiv, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Lord Swaminarayan (considered a reincarnation of Lord Krishna), Tirupati Balaji and Lord Ayappa. The seven shikhars represent the seven Emirates of the UAE,” Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of international relations for BAPS, told PTI.

The temple design has also incorporated carvings of camels and the UAE’s national bird, the falcon.

The temple houses intricate depictions of Hindu deities and stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

However, it also depicts the narratives and artistic elements from Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese, and African civilisations.

Other noteworthy architectural elements include two ghumats (domes), 12 samrans (dome-like structures) and 402 pillars. The two ghumats are the “Dome of Peace” and “Dome of Harmony”.

The temple’s dedication to inclusivity extends further. On either side of the temple, holy water flows from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, brought specifically from India.