BAPS Hindu Mandir

On our way home from the farm, we passed the newly inaugurated Hindu mandir (=a place of worship).

This is the third Hindu temple in the UAE, and the first in Abu Dhabi. It only opened for the public a week ago.

The exterior is constructed in pink sandstone, sent from northern Rajasthan to Abu Dhabi. These stones are known for having the ability to withstand scorching temperatures, something that is needed here during the summers. It is the first traditional stone mandir in the Middle East.

Marble from Italy has been used to build the interior of the mandir. We were not allowed to photograph on the inside unfortunately. I would have loved to show you the domes, absolutely stunning on the inside, with symbolism embodying the essence of earth, water, fire, air and space.

This is the largest temple in West Asia, it can host up to 10,000 people. It has two domes, 402 pillars and seven spires, symbolic of the seven emirates of the UAE. It is a visual treat!

The carvings cover over 250 stories from the Hindu scriptures Ramayana, Shiva Purana, Bhagavatam and Mahabharata; there are also carvings of animals like horses and camels that represent the UAE. Each animal is carved without repetition and all the decorations are hand-carved.

The shoe houses feature 96 bells on the exterior. We didn't ring them, but a lot of people did.

The temple is open to people of all faiths and religious beliefs. The land to build this temple was donated by the UAE President, a Muslim leader, while the architecture is designed by a Catholic Christian. The construction project was managed by a Sikh and the director of the institution is Jain.
It really shows the significance of interfaith, and cultural harmony.