Raj Sadosh

Abohar: Delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai was the first ever to be held in the Middle East. It brought together 192 participating countries, each showcasing their own unique architecture, culture and inspiring innovations in their specially constructed country pavilions around the Al Wasl Plaza CenterPoint on a 1080-acre site in Dubai. Over 24 million from all over the world visited Expo 2020 during the six months from October 2021 to March 2022.

India’s four-floor pavilion showcased Ayurveda, culture, architecture, yoga, its space program, and its fast-growing economy.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai invited BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi, to partner and display the rich culture and diversity of India at the award-winning India Pavilion, which received more than 1.5 million visitors. In the pavilion, BAPS Hindu Mandir exhibited a creative real and virtual presentation that consisted of a majestic 3D model of the upcoming BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, giving visitors a glimpse of what to expect in the near future. The BAPS exhibit also depicted Hindu culture, traditions, values and spirituality.

While the creative concept was designed by BAPS swamis and the video animation was prepared by Swaminarayan Aksharpith Animation Studio in Ahmedabad, the 3D model was by Mufaddal Ali, a member of the Bori Muslim community who was moved by the vision and message of harmony which the project promotes, and his team of creative artisans in just seven days.

The beautiful, intricately designed 3D model allowed visitors to reflect on its core values of harmony and spirituality. An energy-efficient video animation of the under-construction mandir and its facilities, as well as some of the contributions of the mandir to the UAE community.

While the creative concept was designed by BAPS swamis and the video animation was prepared by Swaminarayan Aksharpith Animation Studio in Ahmedabad, the 3D model was by Mufaddal Ali, a member of the Bori Muslim community who was moved by the vision and message of harmony which the project promotes, and his team of creative artisans in just seven days.

Around 30 BAPS volunteers served at the Expo 2020 India Pavilion during the six months, delivering inspirational presentations about the upcoming mandir, BAPS and other aspects of Hindu culture, traditions and spirituality to the visitors. Inspired by the BAPS exhibit, many visitors also went to the construction site in Abu Dhabi to see the work in progress.

BAPS had the honour of welcoming many dignitaries to the BAPS Hindu Mandir exhibit at the Expo 2020 India Pavilion.