'Long-cherished dream has come true': PM Modi inaugurates Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi

Spread over 27 acres and built at a cost of over Rs. 700 crore, the BAPS Hindu temple is also seen as a mark of the deepening ties between India and the United Arab Emirates.

After inaugurating the temple, PM Modi said in Hindi, "A golden chapter in human history has been written in UAE today. A grand and holy temple has been inaugurated in Abu Dhabi today. Years of hard work have gone into this temple and a long-cherished dream has come true. Bhagwan Swaminarayan's blessings are also with this temple.”

Referring to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 the PM said: "A centuries-old dream was fulfilled. All of India and every Indian is still cherishing that feeling. My friend Brahmavihari Swamy was saying, 'Modi ji s the biggest priest'. I don't know if I have the qualifications of a temple priest but I am proud to be a priest of Maa Bharti (Mother India)."

Stating that every moment of his life and every molecule in his body is dedicated to Ma Bharti, the Prime Minister said, "The joy we felt in Ayodhya has been amplified in Abu Dhabi today. It is my honour that I witnessed the consecration of the temple in Ayodhya last month and this temple in Abu Dhabi today."

PM Modi earlier praised UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an address at a mega diaspora event on Tuesday and said that the then crown prince had agreed to donate land for the temple during the leaders' meeting in 2015.

"I consider the construction of BAPS temple here as a reflection of your love for India and your vision for the bright future of UAE. This would not have been possible without your support. During our first meeting, I had made a simple request for you to look into it and you took a prompt decision, telling me 'put your finger on any piece of land, you will get it'," the PM had said.

Al Nahyan donated 13.5 acres of land for the construction of the temple in 2015 and PM Modi had laid the foundation three years later.

The construction of the temple began in 2019 after an additional 13.5 acres of land was donated earlier that year.

Built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the temple is located in Abu Mreikhah, near Al Rahba. The consecration ceremony of the idols began at the temple on Wednesday morning.

Temple authorities said seven shikhars (spires) have been built at the temple representing the seven emirates that form the UAE.

PM Modi also participated in a 'global aarti (prayer)', which was performed simultaneously at over 1,200 temples built by BAPS.

Before inaugurating the temple, he offered water in the virtual Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the temple and met people from different religions who played a role in its construction.