PM Modi inaugurated the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
This temple has been built in Nagar style on the lines of Ram temple of Ayodhya. This temple, built on about 27 acres of land, has been built at a cost of Rs 700 crore.
The land for the temple has been donated by the United Arab Emirates. The consecration of the idols in the temple started on Wednesday morning.
Prime Minister Modi led the inauguration ceremony of the grand temple in the evening which marked the conclusion of the ‘Sadbhavna Mahotsav’ that started at the temple on February 10.
15 stories of India
This temple has been built by Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a resident of Bochasan, located near Al Rahba on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway.
According to the temple authorities, seven shikharas have been built in the temple. They represent the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
The temple depicts 15 stories from India, including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as stories from the Maya, Aztec, Egyptian, Arabic, European, Chinese and African civilizations. ‘Dome of Peace’ and ‘Dome of Harmony’ have also been built in the temple.
Lord Ram and Shiva also
Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of international relations of BAPS, said that on the seven peaks there are idols of Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Lord Swaminarayan, Tirupati Balaji and Lord Ayyappa.
The seven peaks represent the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. He told that the seven peaks are dedicated to seven important deities.
These peaks underline the interconnectedness of cultures and religions. Generally, our temples either have one shikhara or three or five shikharas, but here the seven shikharas express our gratitude to the unity of the seven emirates.
total height 108 feet
Brahmaviharidas said that the purpose of these summits is to promote unity and harmony in the multicultural scenario. A total of 108 feet high, this temple will pave the way for cultural integration of diverse communities in the area.
To give equal representation to the host country, animals that hold important places in Indian mythology such as the elephant, camel and lion, as well as the UAE’s national bird, the eagle, have also been included in the design of the temple.
Somsingh, the stone carving artisan in the temple, said that the camel, a symbol of determination, commitment and endurance, has been carved in the carvings of the temple, taking inspiration from the landscape of the United Arab Emirates.