Explained | What's Inside The BAPS Mandir, UAE's First Hindu Temple Inaugurated By PM Modi?

The commencement of his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been initiated, during which he will inaugurate the first Hindu temple 'BAPS Mandir' in Abu Dhabi.

Throughout his visit, the Indian diaspora, filled with thousands of crowds, will be addressed, and meetings with the top leadership of one of India's closest strategic partners in West Asia will be held. He departed from New Delhi at 11.30 am, with arrival in Abu Dhabi expected at around 4 pm.

He departed from New Delhi at 11.30 am, with arrival in Abu Dhabi expected at around 4 pm. Notably, the visit was marked as crucial by the Ministry of External Affairs in its special briefing on Monday, because the Prime Minister will meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), whom he had met in December last year during his visit to Gujarat.

During the visit, it was mentioned by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra that several agreements are likely to be inked by the two sides to shore up cooperation in several key areas following a bilateral meeting with the UAE leader.

Abu Dhabi's BAPS temple

In 2015, during PM Modi's first visit, land in Abu Dhabi was decided to be allotted for the construction of a temple, according to News18. Being the first Indian prime minister to visit this strategically important Gulf state in 34 years - after Indira Gandhi - the PM's visit was crucial diplomatically.

The invitation to inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi on 14 February was accepted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The temple project was inaugurated by the PM in February 2018, and construction on it was started in December 2019. The consecration ceremony of the temple is scheduled for 14 February 2024, which coincides with the holy Basant Panchami.

Construction and architecture of BAPS temple

Presently undergoing the final touches, the BAPS Hindu temple rises majestically amid Abu Dhabi's desert sands. According to PTI, the temple, spanning 27 acres of land in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba along the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, is being constructed for Rs 700 crore.

Remarkable measurements characterize the enormous complex: 32.92 metres (108 feet) high, 79.86 metres (262 feet) long, and 54.86 metres (180 feet) wide. An array of extensive facilities, including a large amphitheatre, prayer rooms, a gallery, a library, thematic gardens, water features, a food court, a gift shop, a children's play area, a majlis, and two community halls capable of accommodating 5,000 people, are featured in the temple.

Constructed using a marble façade and pink sandstone with intricate carvings brought from northern Rajasthan, the temple reflects practical considerations for the UAE's climate, noted Som Singh, a Rajasthan artisan.

As part of an environmentally minded strategy to reduce carbon emissions, fly ash was included in the foundation's concrete mix. This project is noteworthy as it is the first traditional Hindu temple to undergo extensive digital modelling and seismic simulation, according to the Financial Express.

The temple's foundation incorporates 100 sensors, while over 350 sensors are strategically placed throughout the structure, continuously gathering data on earthquake activity, temperature fluctuations, and pressure changes.

Marble carvings, crafted using more than 25,000 pieces of stone against a sandstone backdrop, adorn the temple. Additionally, two Ghumats (domes), and seven Shikhars (spires) signifying UAE's seven emirates, 12 Samrans (dome-like structures), and 402 pillars are included.

The temple's design draws inspiration from Vedic architecture and sculptures. Each Shikhar has intricate carvings depicting stories from various Hindu scriptures and narratives of Hindu deities. Representations of camels, symbolizing persistence, commitment, and endurance, have been carved into the sculptures to add a local touch. The "Dome of Harmony" serves as a unique portrayal of harmony of the five natural elements - earth, water, fire, air, and space.

Madhusudan Patel, the temple's construction manager, noted that heat-resistant nano tiles and heavy glass panels have been utilized to merge traditional aesthetic stone structures with modern-day ones. The temple has been constructed using 40,000 cubic meters of marble, including Italian marble, 180,000 cubic meters of sandstone, and over 1.8 million bricks.

Vishal Brahabhatt, who oversees procurement and logistics at the site, mentioned that more than two lakh cubic feet of "sacred" stone has been transported in over 700 containers for temple construction. The temple project was inaugurated by the PM in February 2018, and construction began in December 2019.

About the organisation

The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known by its acronym BAPS, was founded in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj (1865-1951) and pioneered by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830) in the late 18th century. According to the BAPS website, it is a socio-spiritual Hindu religion with origins in the Vedas. The BAPS manages 1,100 temples and 3,850 units globally and is also responsible for the Akshardham temples in Gujarat and Delhi.

The organisation was also responsible for the construction of the largest Hindu temple outside of India, Akshardham, in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Situated 99 miles south of New York City, Akshardham Mahamandir occupies 185 acres in New Jersey and rises to a height of 191 feet. 1.9 million cubic feet of stone were used and transported from over 29 various locations across the globe, including Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and India, to build the temple.

With inputs from PTI