Indian Prime Minister Modi opens a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

Indian Prime Minister Modi opens a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

During his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a palatial Hindu temple.

Constructed on a 27-acre (11 ha) donated property by the United Arab Emirates Government, the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi.

India has declared its construction during the 2018 visit of Mr. Modi to the United Arab Emirates.

In advance of the general elections in two months, analysts predict that the temple will further the government's Hindu nationalist agenda.

Weeks before to this event, Mr. Modi dedicated a state-of-the-art temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Ram in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya. In 1992, a Hindu mob demolished a mosque dating back to the 16th century, causing disturbances that resulted in the deaths of about 2,000 people. The new mosque is its replacement.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which describes itself as a "spiritual, volunteer-run fellowship" with the mission of "promoting Hindu values of faith, service, and global harmony," is in charge of the Abu Dhabi temple.

The organization's headquarters are in Gujarat, the home state of Mr. Modi, and it boasts a 200-year history.

The Pew Research Center estimates that there are 660,000 Hindus in the United Arab Emirates. Although there have been temples in the United Arab Emirates for many years, this is apparently the first to be constructed using conventional methods.

This temple was constructed in Dubai using white Italian marble and pink sandstone from the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Measuring 108 feet (32.9 meters) in height, 262 feet (79.8 meters) in length, and 180 feet (54.8 meters) in breadth, it was purportedly constructed for ₹7 billion ($84.2 million; £67.09 million). Was.

Close allies, India and the UAE exchange $85 billion (£67.6 billion) in bilateral commerce. The majority of the nation's migrants are Indians. Abu Dhabi is home to millions of Hindus from India.

Mr. Modi is in the nation for the World Government Summit, an international leaders' conference.

He had one-on-one discussions with the UAE President on Tuesday, the first day of his tour. The two nations inked a comprehensive economic cooperation deal and a bilateral investment pact, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

The purpose of these accords is to foster collaboration in the areas of commerce, digital infrastructure development, and energy security.

Additionally, Mr. Modi spoke to an assembly of the Abu Dhabi Indian community, thanking the UAE President for granting the site for the temple.