Just Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, went to Abu Dhabi to inaugurate a brand-new BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) Hindu temple in the city. The occasion marked a crucial turning point for the Indian neighborhood in the Middle East. The temple is likewise being promoted as the biggest in the area, covering 27 acres.
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The temple, which is built at a tremendous expense going beyond INR 700 crore, possesses a remarkable sanctum sanctorum, or the ‘Dome of Harmony’. Throughout the inauguration, PM Modi participated in a ‘international aarti’ performed at the same time throughout more than 1200 temples developed by BAPS.
The temple, standing 108 feet high and 180 feet large, with 7 spires symbolising the 7 emirates. Extremely, no iron has actually been utilized in the temple’s 402 pillars, making it UAE’s very first Hindu stone temple, embellished with elaborate carvings of divine beings and Hindu signs in white Italian marble.
Within the sanctum sanctorum, 7 shrines admire different divine beings such as Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshmi, and Lord Shiva, to name a few. Describing the meaning, a volunteer exposed, “The Dome of Harmony represents various aspects– fire, earth, air, water, and area. The shank represents water, Tej embodies the sun, and the running Deers symbolizes air.”
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Each of the temple’s 1400 pillars, secured by a transparent guard, stands as a special development, yet jointly forming a unified structure, as highlighted by the volunteer, “Every pillar inside the sanctum sanctorum is special and has its identity. There are 1,400 pillars, secured by a transparent guard. They represent distinctions, however they all make one pillar.”
The temple’s architecture is not restricted to Indian civilization; it draws motivation from varied cultures, integrating aspects from Maya, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese, and African civilizations. Especially, the shrine devoted to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita includes elaborate carvings of the Ramayan on stone, with ‘shankh’ (shell) and sun themes decorating the dome.
Characterised by great detailing in shaping divine beings and signs, the temple is an architectural marvel, boasting 2 main domes– the ‘Dome of Harmony’ and the ‘Dome of Peace’.
Next time you check out Abu Dhabi, you have a brand-new tourist attraction waiting for you!