Raj Sadosh/Abohar.
BAPS chief Mahant Swami Maharaj arrived in Abu Dhabi as a state guest to preside over the historic inauguration of a Hindu temple.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir will become the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East. The magnificent structure is located in the Abu Mureikhah district.
Swamishri was warmly greeted by Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance for the UAE. He said to Swamishri, “Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.” Mahant Swami Maharaj warmly replied, “We are touched by your love and respect. The leaders of the UAE are great, good, and large-hearted.”
Swamishri was warmly greeted by Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance for the UAE. He said to Swamishri, “Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.” Mahant Swami Maharaj warmly replied, “We are touched by your love and respect. The leaders of the UAE are great, good, and large-hearted.”
Reflective of his status as a state guest, Mahant Swami Maharaj was welcomed in honorific Arabic style by a troupe of dancers, drummers and chanters performing the Al-Ayyala, an expressive traditional cultural performance usually reserved for national holidays and welcome ceremonies of visiting heads of state.
The inauguration of the iconic Mandir will be celebrated through the ‘Festival of Harmony’ which will include the grand inauguration ceremony of the Mandir on Wednesday 14 February in the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
Brahmavihari Swami, who has been overseeing the Mandir project said, “The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi serves as a spiritual oasis for global harmony that celebrates the past and recalibrates the future. It is a timeless testament to the spirituality of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the generosity, sincerity and friendship of the leaderships of the UAE, India and BAPS.”