PICS: More Than 2500 People Attended The Stone Laying Ceremony For The UAE’s First Traditional Hindu Temple

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The foundation stone-laying ceremony for the UAE’s first traditional Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi concluded on Saturday.

About 2,500 devotees from the region, as well as around the world including the US, UK and Africa, joined the priests to witness the historic moment.

Led by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha, and Pujya Ishwar Charan Swami, senior sadhu of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, the ceremony started with sacred rituals, as well as repeated verses in Sanskrit language that filled the air.

As many as 50 priests came from India to be a part of the ceremonies

The ceremony also saw devotees following directions from the priest, as a tray containing a brick, rice, water, rose petals, marigold flowers, vermillion powder and a religious thread was placed in front of them

Following a two-hour prayer service, the foundation stone was laid by the priests

The temple will be accessible to people of all religions

The 55,000 square metres of land, that will host the temple, was donated by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit in 2016.

The design of the temple takes inspirations from several Hindu temples including India’s Akshardham temple in New Delhi, but will be much smaller in the size.

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